ADALive!: Recent Episodes
Southeast ADA Center
ADA Live! is a free monthly show broadcast nationally on the Internet. Ask questions and learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Leaders in the field will share their knowledge, experience and successful strategies that increase the participation of persons with disabilities in communities and businesses.
ADA Live! is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, a member of the ADA National Network and a project of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University.
Episode description, speaker bios, transcripts, and resources for Episode 156: Possibilities: Redefining Blindness, Independence, and Helen Keller’s Legacy available at https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-156/In this episode of ADA Live!, Barry Whaley, Project Director of the Southeast ADA Center, speaks with Tony Stephens, producer and cast member of Possibilities. Mr. Stephens is the Assistant Vice President of Communications at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). They discuss the new documentary, Possibilities. This documentary is one of the first to incorporate open audio description into the film. They talk about how Possibilities challenges misconceptions of blindness by featuring people who are blind or have low vision in front of and behind the camera. They also compare the life work of Helen Keller to promote independent living for people who are blind in the early 20th century to the efforts of people who are blind or have low vision today.
Accessibility is about far more than meeting legal requirements, it's about ensuring people with disabilities can fully participate in work, education, and everyday life. In this episode of ADA Live, accessibility advocate Esther Klang shares her personal journey and explains how assistive technology, communication access, and thoughtful design have helped her maintain independence. Drawing on her lived experience as an assistive technology user and write, Esther discusses the importance of designing digital experiences that prioritize real-world usability over simple compliance. She also explores the role of universal design, communication access, and involving people with disabilities throughout the design process to create technology that is truly equal, empowering, and accessible for everyone.
Dr. Purvi Sevak, Senior Director of Mathematica’s Disability Practice, joins the DEP RRTC’s Let’s Get to Work podcast hosted by Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and Principal Investigator of the DEP RRTC.Dr. Sevak discusses her path from an undergraduate student studying health policy to her work at Mathematica, the evolution and importance of disability employment policy, and her research with the DEP RRTC examining how local infrastructure affects employment opportunities for people with disabilities.Drawing on both professional and personal experiences, Dr. Sevak highlights the importance of disability employment policy to the broader economy. “Making sure that everyone who wants to work can work and contribute is important,” she states. “If people with disabilities are employed and earning more than they could be making on SSI, they're going to be spending more money and just contributing to the local economy, buying more things, renting apartments.”
Archive, Bios, Description, Transcripts for Episode 154: The Access Coalition: Creating More Inclusive Retail Spaces available at: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-154/Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, retail spaces are required to provide goods and services to customers with disabilities equal to the goods and services offered to customers without disabilities. This allowed businesses to benefit from the patronage of all customers. Thirty-six years after the ADA became law, many businesses are still not fully accessible to people with disabilities. Recognizing that the consumer spending power of people with disabilities worldwide is over $13 trillion annually, beginning in 2024 Walmart and the American Association of People with Disabilities, or AAPD, began working together on this problem. They created the Access Coalition as a place where business competitors and partners could move beyond basic ADA compliance to reimagine what inclusive, accessible retail space could look like. To tell us more about this ambitious initiative, we have with us Maria Town. She is president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, a cross-disability organization dedicated to increasing political and economic power of people with disabilities.
Archive, Bios, Description, Resources, and Transcripts available at: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-153/Our guest, Dr. Joseph A. Stramondo, drawing on both philosophical analysis and his own lived experience with dwarfism and an incomplete spinal cord injury, and the host for this episode, Stephen Kuusisto, will discuss the challenges of traditional medical models of disability and advocates for more inclusive ethical frameworks that recognize disability as a matter of social justice and human rights.Dr. Joseph A. Stramondo is a philosopher and disability studies scholar whose work focuses on bioethics, philosophy of medicine, and disability justice. He is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs at San Diego State University. Dr. Stramondo’s research examines ethical issues related to disability, including healthcare equity, genetic testing, end-of-life decision making, and how social and medical systems shape the lived experiences of people with disabilities.Stephen Kuusisto is Director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach at the Burton Blatt Institute, and a University Professor at Syracuse University. He is the author of the memoirs Planet of the Blind (a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”), Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey, and Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening as well as the poetry collections Only Bread, Only Light, and Letters to Borges.
Archive, Bios, Description, and Transcripts for Episode 152: New Opportunities for Job Success for Workers who are Blind: The Monarch Rise Project https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-152/The employment rate of adults with low vision or blindness (52%) is significantly less than the general population of working-age adults (76%). This data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision reveals an overall 24 percent gap in employment. (Data Source: bit.ly/4rFq2cB)One group trying to close this employment gap is the American Printing House for the Blind, or APH, located in Louisville, Kentucky. In this episode we talk with Erin Sigmund, the Director of an APH project called Monarch RISE. We will discuss the ways Monarch RISE empowers project participants to achieve and sustain competitive integrated employment (CIE). Later in this episode, we will hear from two of the project’s participants, Tim Emmons and Bill Adams, about their experiences.
Jonathan Martinis, Director of Knowledge Translation for the DEP RRTC, and Barry Whaley, Director of the Southeast ADA Center, join the DEP RRTC’s Let’s Get to Work podcast to discuss how knowledge translation can connect research, policy, and real-world impact.Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and Principal Investigator of the DEP RRTC, hosts a conversation focused on the importance of “conveying information to people that is useful, robust, accessible, and in plain language to both improve disability employment policy and disability employment.”To that end, Jonathan explains that knowledge translation is more than just providing information; it’s about connecting information to action. “Knowledge translation is a bridge,” he says. “It is a bridge between what we know or what we're going to find out and what we're doing.” Barry emphasizes that knowledge translation must engage stakeholders and be responsive to their needs, saying, “unless there is communication with the people receiving that information and that it is useful to them, then we've not succeeded in our mission.”Together, Jonathan and Barry discuss how the DEP RRTC and Southeast ADA Center are using multiple tools to translate complex research and resources into practical guidance, with a clear focus: “Knowledge translation is what makes good information into good policy and practice.”
More information, bios, and transcript available at: https://bbi-dep-rrtc.org/resources/podcast-series/lgtw-beth-23/Beth Sirull, President and CEO of the National Organization on Disability (NOD), joins the DEP RRTC’s Let’s Get to Work podcast to discuss the future of disability employment policy and why employing people with disabilities “is good for business.” Beth explains that NOD has long focused on employment as a pathway to independence and economic opportunity for people with disabilities because, “if you don't have a way to support yourself, there's just no way that you can manifest the American Dream.”Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and Principal Investigator of the DEP RRTC, joins Beth in a conversation about how NOD works with employers to unlock the vast, often overlooked talent pool of people with disabilities. Beth emphasizes that employing people with disabilities results in real benefits to businesses, including lower turnover and stronger employee engagement. “[I]f you hire someone with a disability and you provide them with the accommodation that they need,” she says, “they will not leave. You will have a very loyal, longstanding, productive employee.”Ultimately, Beth emphasizes, disability employment policy is about “putting everyone in a situation where they can be maximally effective in their job, which obviously is what companies want.”
In this episode, we welcome Naureen Hunani, a registered dietitian, educator, and the founder of Registered Dieticians or RDs for Neurodiversity, a group dedicated to changing how healthcare and mental health providers can support neurodivergent people with feeding and eating challenges. Her work focuses on the lived experiences of autistic and neurodivergent people and the intersection of feeding differences, feeding challenges, eating disorders, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder or ARFID. By supporting disability and neurodiversity, Naureen challenges harmful, compliance-based feeding models and advocates for healthcare rooted in personal choice, access, and dignity. She is widely known for connecting clinical nutrition, disability rights, and social justice to help families, clinicians, and systems rethink what truly supportive, ethical feeding care looks like.https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-151/-Archive, Bios, Description, and Transcripts for Episode 151: When Eating Is a Disability Rights Issue
Get answers to questions about Supported Decision-Making (SDM) in this conversation between Leo True Frost, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy who uses a communication device to speak, and Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy at the Burton Blatt Institute. Martinis explains that SDM involves individuals seeking advice and support to make decisions, similar to how non-disabled individuals do. He highlights the Jenny Hatch case, which brought SDM into public consciousness and led to many states recognizing SDM. Martinis emphasizes the importance of planning ahead, identifying supporters, and formalizing agreements. He also discusses the balance between SDM and guardianship, advocacy for legal recognition, and the role of self-advocates in promoting their rights.
Lex Frieden, a pioneering disability rights activist, shares his journey from the car accident that left him paralyzed to his pivotal role in shaping disability employment policy. He recounts his struggles with accessibility and education, leading to his advocacy for the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In his interview with Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, Frieden highlights the importance of public and private sector collaboration and emphasizes the need for continued education and advocacy to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Nancy Horton, Associate Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, discusses the top five hospitality holidays for guests with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of year-round accessibility, employee training, and clear communication about facilities and events. For New Year's Eve, she highlights the need to keep accessible routes clear and provide information about loud activities and long lines. For Valentine's Day, she advises on accessible dining tables and limited menus. During summer travel, she stresses the importance of training staff and ensuring accessible outdoor spaces. For Thanksgiving, she suggests redesigning buffets for accessibility and providing options for guests with disabilities. Finally, for December holidays, she recommends managing sensory elements and offering a variety of inclusive activities.
Archive, Bios, Description, and Transcripts for Episode 148: Housing, Disability Rights, and Planning Accessible Communities available at https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-148/Professor Robin Malloy and Dr. Peter Blanck discussed the complexities of housing rights for people with disabilities, emphasizing the intersection of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and zoning laws. Robin highlighted the challenges of obtaining reasonable accommodations, such as ramps and therapeutic pools, and the importance of creating a legal record. He shared examples of zoning board decisions and the impact of neighbor objections. Robin also discussed the broader implications of accessibility, including the need for government to address homelessness without infringing on disability rights. The conversation underscored the need for better education and collaboration between disability rights advocates and land use professionals.
In this episode, we talk about some of the most common questions that the Southeast ADA Center received this year related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the legal rights of people with disabilities. We have received over 1,600 questions this year. As a team, we focus on each request for information and send specific resources to help with those questions. Our guest is Jenny Sykes, Lead Technical Information Specialist for the Southeast ADA Center.
Vidya Sundar and Debra Brucker, co-principal investigators of the University of New Hampshire’s new Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) on Living and Working with Long COVID and Disabilities, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDLRR), discuss their proposed research activities to be implemented over the next five years. A critical piece of their research is to build on their prior study on the use and impact of “job crafting,” or how individuals can redesign their jobs to better align with their strengths without having to self-identify with a disability and rely on the formal disability accommodation process. To learn more about job crafting, and the other research projects to be implemented relating to people with pre-existing disabilities who have Long COVID, listen to this podcast.
Sharon Rennert, senior attorney with the ADA Division of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, has played a leading role in the development of their policy interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. In this podcast, Sharon explains the protections for people with disabilities in employment and how they apply to people with Long COVID. Rennert describes the importance for employers to understand the protections that job applicants and employees with disabilities have in the workplace, and the related responsibility for people with disabilities to understand the process for securing needed accommodations that enable them to perform the essential functions of their job.
Professor Yana Rodgers, Rutgers University and Professor Jennifer Cohen, Miami University discuss their collaborative research about Long COVID, disability and accommodation. Their research examines the prevalence of Long COVID across different demographic groups, and the extent with which workers with impairments associated with Long COVID have benefitted from remote work. People with pre-existing disabilities, women, sexual and gender minorities, individuals without college degrees and Hispanic people are more likely to experience Long COVID. These groups are also more likely to be clustered in jobs less amenable to remote work. Rodgers and Cohen suggest other types of accommodations for employers to consider, including flexible scheduling and task-sharing that re-evaluates essential job functions.
Pandemic Patients founder Andrew Wylam discusses the reasons he created the organization, and his vision for future national efforts to address issues facing individuals with disabilities with Long COVID. The organization also manages a COVID 19 Advocacy Center to connect individuals with Long COVID with policy makers in support of legislative proposals that will improve access to health services and expansion of family and medical leave policies. His organization offers a Legal Assistance Network that provides attorneys who volunteer their time to assist individuals with Long COVID with such issues as disability discrimination in the workplace and access to social security disability benefits. He explains some of the challenges he has encountered as he has advocated for policies that are shaped around Long COVID, but also discusses the importance of supporting individuals with Long COVID on a one-on-one basis to help them with their new daily challenges.
Mason Ameri, associate professor at the Rutgers University Business School, describes how the pandemic has transformed the outlook of disability employment. Tight labor markets have demonstrated an increased willingness by employers to have remote workers, and people with disabilities are helping meet this demand. However, the growth of telework is more likely in white collar jobs, and workers with disabilities are more concentrated in blue collar jobs and service positions. There is a need for more research to understand how employers can restructure jobs where nonessential tasks are done remotely as well as increased understanding of remote work as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA with other supports that make that possible. There remain unanswered questions as to whether remote workers will be put to a different standard in proving performance necessary for career advancement, challenged by less real time interaction face-to-face with supervisors.
Nicholas Wyman, executive director of the Institute for Workforce Skills and Innovation, describes the value that apprenticeships offer in addressing disability employment disparities. In doing so, he describes the obstacles that people with disabilities face in seeking employment, whether outright discriminatory assumptions or longstanding practices that may have good intentions but have adverse consequences for people with disabilities. It is vital with continued skilled labor shortages for employers to rethink the application processes and coordinated support systems to enable disabled people to succeed in inclusive apprenticeships.
Ari Ne’eman, doctoral candidate in health policy at Harvard University, says that the numbers demonstrate the extraordinary impact the COVID-19-induced shift to expanded telework had on the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, but even those don’t tell the complete story regarding what remote work means for disability employment. It is a situation reflective of the gains prospective employees with disabilities experienced because of the pandemic and the parallel economic recession, Ari Ne’eman, doctoral candidate in health policy at Harvard University, says in this episode. The overnight shift to remote work for much of the general workforce because of the pandemic has made it more difficult for employers to argue that physical presence in the workplace is an essential component in job duties, Ne’eman points out, and this is the essence of how disability employment has benefited from remote work. That deconstruction of the perceived importance of physical presence in the workplace needs to be normalized.
Lydia Brown, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, discusses two issues preventing people with disabilities from excelling in the workforce and in general: policies that trap them in poverty and artificial intelligence that discriminates. Antiquated Social Security rules with asset and income limits create a poverty trap that limits a disabled individual from seeking more pay or career advancement. In terms of AI, algorithms are being used that may screen out candidates with disabilities based on certain characteristics such as gaps in employment history, or length of time it took an individual to graduate from college. Often these characteristics are unrelated to a job function or job performance. Brown says these are two of the major issues of this generation for not only disability rights groups but also policymakers. They represent larger issues regarding policies, laws, socioeconomic structures, and the need to address our fundamental values as a society.
Zach Morris, Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Social Work, calls for a re-evaluation of the systems in place to support people with disabilities. We must recognize that people with disabilities not only earn less than people without disabilities. They also face extra expenditures to cover disability-related out-of-pocket costs.
Lisa Mills, Owner, Moving to a Different Drum, Disability Policy and Services Consulting, discusses opportunities to increase employment outcomes by braiding and blending resources across funding sources such as vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid, and Ticket to Work.
Chai Feldblum, Vice Chair of the AbilityOne Commission and former EEOC Commissioner, discuss the importance of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and describe the strategic plan to modernize the AbilityOne program. She also talks about the recent rule that prohibits payment 14(c) subminimum wage on contracts within the AbilityOne Program.
Jay Burks, Director of Supplier Diversity at the Comcast Corporation, shares about the importance of ensuring that large companies like Comcast buy goods and services from diverse suppliers, including Disability-owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs).
Jim Sinocchi, Former Head, Disability Inclusion JPMorgan Chase, lays out four principles of disability inclusion in the workplace: attitude, assimilation, accommodations, and accessibility. He notes that these are principles that extend to life itself, where people with disabilities have lives that cost more and are deemed socially inferior.
Carol Glazer, President of the National Organization on Disability, discusses how companies are interested in increasing disability inclusion but struggle with how to encourage employees to disclose their disability.
Finn Gardiner, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Autistic People of Color Fund, talks about intersectionality from personal and professional perspectives. He explains why single-identity politics are problematic. It is important to recognize how race, disability, gender, and sexual orientation work together as policies and practices marginalize certain people.
This sixth episode features a conversation with Debra Ruh, CEO, Ruh Global Impact and Executive Chair of Billion Strong. Debra reveals the policies that prevent people with disabilities from seeking employment and the changes that need to happen. Debra also shares insights about the changing perception of corporations when it comes to hiring people with disabilities and how to help organizations identify qualified candidates with disabilities.
This fifth episode features a conversation with Doug Kruse, PhD, Professor at Rutgers University. Doug discusses some of the misconceptions that employers have which prevent them from hiring people with disabilities. He also discusses how telework has benefited workers with disabilities and how to prepare those workers for the future of work.
Rebecca Cokley, U.S. Disability Rights Program Officer for the Ford Foundation joins the program for this fourth episode. Rebecca shares the importance of economic justice for people with disabilities. Rebecca also discusses some of the challenges that young people with disabilities are facing when it comes to employment and what motivates her in her work.
This third episode features an interview with Dr. Nicole Maestas, Associate Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and Research Associate in the National Bureau of Economic Research. Discover the impact of the social security system on the economic well-being of people with disabilities. Nicole also shares trends and potential policy solutions.
Taryn Williams, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy for the U.S. Department of Labor, joins the program for this second episode. Taryn shares the Department of Labor’s overall vision for a more inclusive workforce and the steps needed to achieve this vision. Discover the holistic view of what policies are needed to advance competitive integrated employment.
In this first episode, Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute, joins the program to discuss the history of disability inclusive employment policy, as well as his own background and how he came to his current position. Discover how the changing nature of work and an evolving view of individuals in the workplace has impacted disability inclusive employment policy.
Archive, Bios, Description, Resources and Transcripts for Episode 146: In Celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Transforming Disability Employment Services in Rhode Island https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-146/Barry Whaley and Kiernan O'Donnell discuss the impact of the Olmstead case in Rhode Island, which led to a consent decree in 2014 aimed at transitioning people with disabilities from sheltered workshops to integrated community employment. O'Donnell highlights that 80% of Rhode Island's population with disabilities were in sheltered workshops, earning an average of $2.21 per hour, while only 12% were in integrated employment. The decree aimed to increase inclusive employment and reduce segregation. O'Donnell emphasizes the importance of family involvement, interagency collaboration, and customized employment strategies to achieve meaningful employment and community inclusion.
Archive, Bios, Description, Resources and Transcripts for Episode 145: Boys and Girls Clubs of America Empower Youth With and Without Disabilities https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-145/Since 1860, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America have unlocked the unlimited potential of youth in a safe, inclusive, and engaging setting. Each year these Clubs serve over four million youth from early childhood to age 24. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America programs provide important youth development at critical times outside of the classroom to promote school success, healthy choices, and leadership.Our guest for this episode is Katie Anderson, Director of Youth Programs and Innovation for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Katie describes how the Boys and Girls Clubs offer a welcoming program for young people with disabilities and their families. Katie also shares the importance of programs outside of school time and talks about the barriers like access and cost. She highlights the need for individual evaluations and inclusive practices like their Keystone Conference with sensory calming rooms. Katie also stresses the importance of youth choice and voice in programs together with universal access for all youth.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-144/. Individuals in mental health crisis often cannot make informed choices for themselves. Far too often, law enforcement or first responders must quickly assess a situation and make judgments about keeping the public and the individual in crisis safe and respond quickly to address their needs for mental health treatment. One tool currently being evaluated in California is Psychiatric Advanced Directives, also known as “pads” or P-A-D-S. PADs are used to protect the legal rights of people with mental health conditions.Our host for this episode is Gary Shaheen. Gary is the Director for Mental Health Initiatives at Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Gary will be speaking with Kiran Sahota, the founder of Concepts Forward Consulting. Kiran and Gary discuss the development and implementation of web-based psychiatric advance directives (PADs) in California. The project, involving seven counties, aims to enhance mental health crisis management by providing individuals with mental health conditions a platform to express their preferences and choices. The digital PADs platform, accessible in multiple languages, addresses issues of accessibility and usability. The project also involves training law enforcement and hospitals on utilizing PADs, which could reduce hospitalization and incarceration. The initiative highlights the importance of systems change and community engagement in mental health care.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-143/. Jeff Moyer, a musician and disability rights advocate, discusses his role in the disability rights movement, including the 504 sit-in in San Francisco in 1977, where his song "Hold On" became an anthem. Moyer recounted his experiences at the signing of the ADA in 1990, where he performed "ADA Anthem." He shared his book "Grit," which chronicles his life and contributions. Moyer also mentioned his upcoming book "The Giants and Me," which will feature stories of key figures in the disability rights movement. He emphasized the importance of music in advocacy and the need for continued efforts in disability rights.
Episode 142: The ADA and Employment Rights for Employees with Alcohol or Substance Use Disorders by Southeast ADA Center
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-141/. Dr. Robin Powell, an assistant professor of law at Stetson University and a leading expert on the rights of parents with disabilities, discussed her extensive background in social work, law, and academia. She highlighted the discrimination faced by parents with disabilities, noting that 42 states and D.C. can terminate parental rights based on disability. Powell emphasized the importance of legal representation and resources like the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities and the Disabled Parenting Project. She also discussed the impact of the Dobbs decision on reproductive rights and the need for expanded disability rights to include family and parenting.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-140/. We all love to travel to learn new things, enjoy fun experiences, and make lasting memories. For many of us with disabilities, travel is not easy. We know that leaving home and going somewhere else has its own set of challenges. It can be difficult to visit a theme park or go to a baseball game, even one near our home. Our guest for this episode is Cory Lee, a wheelchair user and self-described “travel addict” who will share with us how and why accessible travel is possible and also fun! He shares his journey, starting with a trip to Walt Disney World at age four and his first international trip to the Bahamas at 15. In 2024, he traveled for 152 nights, working with destinations to promote accessibility. Corey emphasized the importance of early planning, often starting 6-12 months in advance. He highlighted the challenges of air travel and the need for positive attitudes. His website, Curb Free with Corey Lee, features 630 travel guides from 52 countries. He also co-authored a children's book, "Let's Explore with Core Core," to inspire accessible travel.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-139/. How many of us dreamed of running away to join the circus when we were kids? For many of us, the circus was bigger than life. In this episode of ADA Live! we are going to the “big top” to learn how a circus can be made accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Our guest for this episode is Lisa Lewis, the founder and CEO of Omnium Circus, an inclusive and accessible circus created by and for the whole community, including people with disabilities.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-138/. Barry Whaley and Lisa Tucker discuss how to plan and host the ADA National Symposium, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities. As the Events Manager at the Great Plains ADA Center, Lisa outlines her role in choosing locations, contract management, assisting with the registration from start to finish, and ensuring ADA accommodations for all participants. Barry and Lisa discuss the challenges of making conference presentations accessible and why it is important to ask the right questions during the registration process. Lisa explains why technology like video remote captioning and sign language interpreters are required for accessibility. She also shares resources for accessible event planning and encourages self-advocacy for participants with disabilities.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-137/ This ADA Live episode features Barry Whaley and Troy Balthazor discussing the 2025 ADA National Symposium, which will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ADA. The symposium, hosted by the Great Plains ADA Center, will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 15-18, 2025. The event aims to provide comprehensive training on the ADA, attracting up to 1,200 attendees in person and a significant virtual audience. The symposium includes sessions on various ADA-related topics, a certification track for ADA coordinators, and special events to honor the ADA's 35th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-136/ Barry Whaley and Sally Miracle discuss the rights of children with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Sally, a special education consultant, explains these laws, emphasizing that the ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Section 504 and IDEA also provide civil rights protections and mandate free, appropriate public education. Sally suggests for parents to document concerns, contact school officials, and seek help from Protection and Advocacy groups before filing complaints. She stresses the importance of open communication, understanding Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and teaching students to advocate for themselves. Sally also highlights the need for positive relationships between parents, caregivers, teachers, and school staff
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-135/Our guest for this episode is Eric Lipp, founder and executive director of Open Doors Organization. The mission of the non-profit Open Doors Organization is to make goods and services accessible to people with disabilities in travel, tourism and transportation. Their goal is to teach businesses how to succeed in the disability market, while simultaneously empowering the disability community.Americans love to travel. Americans spend billions of dollars on leisure travel each year according to the U.S. Travel Association. This travel supports millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in economic impact when we include food services, lodging, transportation, recreation, amusement, and retail sales. Looking at the disability travel market, Open Doors Organization reported 25.6 million people with disabilities traveled for pleasure or business while spending over 50 billion dollars.In this program we will talk about two laws that affect people with disabilities when they travel. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodation including, hotels, restaurants, airports, bus stations and more. The second law is the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability. However, people with disabilities sometimes file lawsuits or complaints because they believe their rights were violated or they had a poor travel experience.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-134/As many as 40% of people with autism are non-speaking — which is more than 30 million worldwide. Yet only a small fraction of non-speakers have been taught how to type to communicate.We will talk with Elizabeth Bonker about her mission to enable non-speaking persons with disabilities to find their voices and how the ADA helped her share her own remarkable story.Elizabeth Bonker is the Executive Director of Communication 4 ALL, a nonprofit with the mission to ensure all non-speakers have access to communication and education. Elizabeth learned to type to communicate when she was five years old, and she entered mainstream public school in first grade.Elizabeth’s decade of advocacy work includes a book, “I Am in Here”, and a music album. She has given dozens of published interviews and keynote addresses. Her story has been featured in three documentary films: SPELLERS, Understanding Autism, and In Our Own Hands.She is a 2022 graduate of the Rollins College Honors Program where she majored in social innovation with a minor in English. Her valedictorian commencement speech went viral with 4 billion media impressions, propelling her mission onto a global stage.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-132. State and local governments provide many services, programs, and activities through websites and mobile applications (apps). When these are not accessible, they create barriers for people with disabilities to access government services and programs, like tax information, building permits, or garbage collection payments. Inaccessibility can also keep people with disabilities from joining or fully participating in civic or other community events like town meetings or programs at their child’s school.In April 2024, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) published a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This final rule has specific requirements for ensuring that web content and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities. The compliance date for this rule depends on the population size of the public entity.In this episode, we will share information and resources to learn more about the rule’s requirements. Our guest is Ruben Mota, ADA Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-132. One of the most important issues for people with disabilities is being able to get the health care they need in their communities.According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH):People with disabilities often experience a wide and varying range of health conditions leading to poorer health and shorter lifespan. In addition, discrimination, inequality and exclusionary structural practices, programs and policies [that] inhibit access to timely and comprehensive health care, which further results in poorer health outcomes. (Source: nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-designates-people-disabilities-population-health-disparities)This episode features a project from the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD), who is the Georgia Affiliate of the Southeast ADA Center. Their project will educate nurses and other health professionals on providing equitable and inclusive health care services for people with disabilities.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-131. Each July we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The United States has come a long way in fulfilling the promise of the ADA since President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990, and said “let the shameful wall of exclusion come tumbling down”.Today, our communities are more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. But there are still many barriers that people with disabilities face daily in communities, work, transportation, school, and civic participation.Some people think only new construction and alterations need to be accessible – that older facilities are “grandfathered in,” and do not have to comply with the ADA. But that’s not true. Because the ADA is a civil rights law and not a building code, older facilities are often required to be accessible to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate.The ADA requires that state and local governments (ADA Title II entities) must ensure “program accessibility” and make reasonable modification to policy, practice, and procedure so all citizens can equally participate in the programs and services of their state and local government.Our guest for this episode is Stacey Peace. the State of Georgia ADA Coordinator.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-130.The Southeast ADA Center and the ADA National Network get a lot of questions about workplace accommodations. This includes questions about when and how employees can stay at work or return to work after a disabling illness or injury.The U.S. Department of Labor reports that millions of workers experience an injury that puts them at risk of leaving the workforce. While some injuries are work related, many happen off-the-job. These injuries impact not only workers, but family members, employers, and the economy. Many workers can return to work when the get timely and effective help. The RETAIN project, an initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), seeks to aide injured workers in the recovery process and return to economic self-sufficiency.Our guest for this episode is Kimberly Wickert with RETAIN Kentucky. Kimberly will be talking about the ways the RETAIN demonstration projects help employees and employers, along with other partners, work together so that employees facing illness or injury remain in the workforce.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-129. Each month, the 10 ADA Centers receive hundreds of calls and emails asking for disability-related information and guidance on their legal rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many people ask about their employment rights or about an employer’s duty to an employee with a disability.The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the EEOC is responsible for enforcement of various employment rights laws. The EEOC handles complaints of employment discrimination that are based on issues such as a person’s disability, age, gender, race, or religion. In this episode, we will focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and employment discrimination against people with disabilities.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-128.It’s April and in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, we will talk about the rights autistic people have under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many people who are autistic or are neurodivergent have difficulty with social situations and personal interactions. We will also offer strategies for coping with workplace and community barriers. Our guest for this episode is Stacey Hoaglund, the President of the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Florida.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-127. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, when we raise awareness and promote acceptance of people with developmental disabilities.In thinking about the barriers faced by people with developmental disabilities and their families, it can be hard to find up-to-date information on the quality services and programs you need to live independently in the community. One important resource for this information is the state Developmental Disabilities Councils, often called “DD Councils.”Our guest for this episode of ADA Live! is Johnny Callebs, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-126/.Synergies Work is the largest non-profit in the United States that enables entrepreneurs with disabilities to build sustainable micro-enterprises. They provide end-to-end business solutions and bridge the opportunity gaps between the disability and the business communities. Synergies Work believes that empowering entrepreneurs with disabilities can create a more inclusive society and a better world for all.Synergies Work is a personal mission of its founder, Aarti Sahgal. Her vision stems from her life experiences as a parent of a young adult with Down syndrome, who constantly challenges the bias of low expectations that excludes people with disabilities from living their true potential. In this episode of ADA Live! Aarti talks about the organization she founded, Synergies Work, and her personal mission to create inclusive communities and workforce strategies for people with disabilities.
More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-125/. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), a significant number of individuals with disabilities spend their day receiving public services in sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. In a report titled, Beyond Segregated and Exploited, the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) estimates that over 400,000 people are sent to sheltered workshops where they earn less than the federal minimum wage. This environment results in stigmatization and a lack of economic independence. These settings segregate individuals from the community and provide little or no opportunity to interact with people without disabilities, other than paid staff.The Department of Justice implements the “integration mandate” of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires public entities to “administer services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.” The ADA’s “integration mandate” makes clear that public entities must provide reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination. On October 31, 2023, the DOJ issued guidance that the “integration mandate” applies to sheltered workshops and day centers, putting them in violation of the ADA and the Olmstead decision.In this episode we will discuss the most recent guidance on the ADA’s “integration mandate” and the Olmstead decision and its application to employment and day services for people with disabilities. Our guest is Julie Kegley, Staff Attorney & Program Director - Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO).
More information, resources, and transcript visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-124/Each year the United Nations recognizes December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme is “United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for with and by people with disabilities.” Social Media Tags: #IDPD #DisabilityDayWe are honored to have as our guest today Gertrude or “Getty” Oforiwa Fefoame. Getty is Chair of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which sets out the fundamental human rights of people with disabilities all over the world. Getty also works as the Global Advocacy Manager for Social Inclusion for Sightsavers, a global nonprofit organization that works in more than 30 countries to prevent blindness and fight for the rights of people with disabilities.In this episode we discuss the work and mission of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and highlight some of the important issues facing people with disabilities around the world.
More information, transcripts, and resources available at: https://section504at50.org/episodes/paul-grossman/For over 30 years, Paul Grossman served as the Chief Regional Attorney for the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in San Francisco. In Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, Paul has worked on every type of education discrimination matter under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA, including securing equal access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. For nearly 20 years, Paul also had lead responsibility for internal disability law training for OCR and continues to provide training services for OCR. In this episode, Paul talks about Disability law and its development, the Disability Rights Movement and the 504 occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building at the United Nations Plaza, and closes with future challenges in the disability rights field.
More information, resources, and transcript visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-123/According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, occurs when we are exposed to a traumatic event. About half of U.S. adults will experience a traumatic event in our lifetimes. Although some people will experience PTSD, most who go through a traumatic event will not develop PTSD.On this episode of ADA Live! we discuss how people with disabilities can be affected by traumatic events or experiences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of PTSD vary from person to person and the effects can be delayed. People who have PTSD may meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of a disability by having an impairment or condition that impacts one or more major life activities.Our guest for this episode is Dr. Farris Tuma, a Health Scientist Administrator with the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH, in Bethesda, Maryland. He is the NIMH point of contact for research on violence and trauma. His formal training is in public health as a research scientist, and he holds a master’s degree in health policy and management. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to mental health research. Through basic and clinical research, NIMH aims to prevent and cure mental illnesses, improving the lives of millions of individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. Note: Because these traumatic events or experiences and PTSD can be difficult to talk about, the information we discuss in this episode may be disturbing for some listeners.
En celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, reconocemos las contribuciones y la rica influencia de los hispanoamericanos a la historia, la cultura y los logros de los Estados Unidos. La comunidad hispana de personas con discapacidades tiene un papel importante que desempeñar en esta celebración.El Centro del Sureste de la ADA y los otros nueve centros informan a las personas sobre sus derechos y responsabilidades en virtud de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y otras leyes sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidades. Hace unos tres años, la Red Nacional de la ADA creó un Comité de Alcance Multicultural para proporcionar información y orientación a los grupos desatendidos. En este episodio, discutimos cómo la Red Nacional de la ADA y su Comité de Alcance Multicultural educan a la comunidad hispana de discapacitados sobre sus derechos bajo la ADA. También explicaremos el propósito del comité y los proyectos y programas que han desarrollado para apoyar la independencia, la participación comunitaria y el empleo de las personas hispanas con discapacidades.Nuestro invitado es Oscar González, del Centro de Traducción de Conocimientos de la Red Nacional de la ADA de la Universidad de Illinois-Chicago. Oscar es el Coordinador del Programa de Extensión del Idioma Español para la Red Nacional de la ADA. Angelica Deaton, coordinadora de la oficina y asistente de investigación en el Centro ADA del Sureste, es nuestra anfitriona y moderadora de este episodio. Este episodio que celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana estará disponible en inglés y español. Puede acceder a todos los programas de ADA Live! episodios con audio archivado, transcripciones accesibles y recursos en nuestro sitio web en ADAlive.org.
More information, transcripts, and resources available at: https://section504at50.org/episodes/katherine-macfarlane/Professor Macfarlane is a leading expert on civil procedure, civil rights litigation, and disability law. She has also served as the Special Counsel to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, working on the overhaul of regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, focusing on the regulations’ higher education provisions. Professor Macfarlane will also talk about her experiences as a child with a disability and how they shaped her life and work as a disability rights advocate, student, lawyer, author, professor, and policymaker.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-121/September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC: “Suicide rates increased about 36% from 2000 to 2021. Suicide resulted in 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021 about 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide and 1.7 million attempted suicide. “ (Source: cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html)Our guests for this ADA Live! episode are Rachelle Burns, Chair of the EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition in Santa Rosa County, Florida, and Lauren Anzaldo, a member of the EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition Veterans Support Team. They will share about suicide prevention and awareness and how we can help those in need of support, including at-risk populations such as military veterans and youth. Join us for this honest discussion on a difficult topic.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-120/ Did you know that the federal government is America's largest employer? According to information published in May 2023 by the General Services Administration: “More than 4 million Americans—including more than 2.1 million Federal civilian employees—work for our Federal Government, both at home and overseas.” (Source: Strengthening and Empowering the Federal Workforce.)
In this episode of ADA Live! we discuss the Schedule A hiring Authority, a program the federal government has in place to recruit and hire employees with disabilities. This program allows federal agencies to hire qualified employees with disabilities without requiring them to go through a long hiring process. Schedule A hiring applies to all federal jobs. This episode includes information and resources for workers with disabilities, Federal employers, and employment service providers.
Our guests for this episode, Laura Taylor, Affirmative Employment Program Specialist, and Sandy Williams, Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Laura and Sandy will explain how the Schedule A program helps qualified workers with disabilities find jobs with the federal government.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-119/ On a warm summer day in July 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA informs the public, businesses, and other organizations about their responsibilities and rights under the ADA. A national network of 10 regional ADA Centers, including the Southeast ADA Center, was created by Congress in 1991. The Southeast ADA Center serves eight states in the U.S. Southeast region. The ADA National Network is funded by a grant from the federal government’s primary disability research organization, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Join our celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the ADA with our guest, Shelley Reeves, the ADA National Network Program Coordinator and Section 21 Program Coordinator for NIDILRR. On this episode we will learn more about NIDILLR’s mission, projects and programs that help each regional ADA Center in the ADA National Network serve and support diverse communities of people with disabilities and other ADA stakeholders throughout the United States.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-118/Aphasia is a communication disability that affects our ability to understand written and spoken language. Aphasia can happen suddenly, often following a stroke or head injury or it may also develop slowly, as the result of a brain tumor or a progressive neurological disease. Aphasia does not affect a person’s ability to think or reason. Aphasia may co-occur with speech disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech, which also result from brain damage. (Source: nidcd.nih.gov/health/aphasia)About 1 million people in the United States live with aphasia, and nearly 180,000 Americans acquire aphasia each year. Aphasia is more common than Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy. (Source: aphasia.org/aphasia-faqs).On this episode of ADA Live! we discuss how aphasia impacts the lives of a family who learned how to recover and cope with its effects. Our guest is Carol Dow Richards, Founding Director of Aphasia Recovery Connection, a nonprofit organization located in Leland, North Carolina. Carol’s son David acquired aphasia after a sudden stroke in 1995 at age ten. Carol will discuss how she and David continue to manage the effects of aphasia, why they started their organization, and how they are helping others move forward in their recovery. We will also talk about how the rights of people with aphasia and similar communication disorders are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For more information, resources, transcripts visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-8/On March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools unanimously decided that individuals who have entered into a settlement resolving their claims under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), can also pursue claims for money damages against school districts under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without exhausting the administrative process under IDEA. This decision reverses a decision made by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.Our guest is Ellen Saideman, a Rhode Island attorney who focuses much of her practice on the educational rights of students with disabilities and their families. In Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, Ms. Saideman represented Mr. Miguel Luna Perez, a Deaf student, in his 6th Circuit Court of Appeals case against the Sturgis Public School system in Michigan. Our host for this podcast is Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.Ms. Saideman and Dr. Blanck discuss how the Court’s decision in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools will affect the rights of students with disabilities under the ADA and IDEA. They will also explain how a similar U.S. Supreme Court case in 2017, Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, paved the way for the Perez v. Sturgis decision.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-117/ In the United States, about 1 in every 8 people of all ages has some form of hearing loss. Behind arthritis and heart disease, hearing loss is the third most common disability. (Source: HealthyHearing.com) Hearing loss is most significant amongst seniors. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 1 in 3 seniors in the United States who are ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of the seniors over age 75 have difficulty hearing. (Source: https://adata.org/factsheet/healthcare-and-face-coverings)In this episode, two Assistant United States attorneys talk about the rights of people with hearing loss, Deafness, or other communication needs in health care settings. We will highlight cases and settlement agreements the Department of Justice has handled that deal with these rights under the ADA.Our guests are: •Steve Gordon is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator and Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.•Kara Sweet is the Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-116/In recognition of National Parkinson’s Month in April, learn about Parkinson’s disease and your health, and your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a brain disorder affecting nearly 1 million people in the United States. This number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Parkinson’s Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s Disease.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-115/In recognition of National Kidney Month in March, learn about kidney disease and your health, kidney transplants, and kidney donors.Chronic kidney disease affects nearly 15% of the U.S. population.1 In 2022 a record 24,669 life-saving kidney transplants were performed.2 Kidney disease and other related health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can be disabilities that affect your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join us for this important episode about living well with kidney disease and the rights of kidney patients and kidney donors under the ADA and other laws.Our guest is Dr. Frita Fisher, a board-certified physician and nephrologist with Midtown Nephrology, P.C., in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Frita is also a member of the Georgia National Kidney Foundation Board of Directors.Our host for this episode is Dan Kessler. Dan is the Interim Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL). For over 20 years, Dan was the Executive Director of Disability Rights and Resources, a Center for Independent Living (CIL) serving people with disabilities in Birmingham, Alabama. Disability Rights and Resources is the Southeast ADA Center Alabama State Affiliate. In 2021, Dan had a kidney transplant. He will talk about his own experiences living with kidney disease and his successful transplant.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-114/The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has a shared vision where all people with disabilities participate fully in their communities. The AUCD supports a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs, including: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC), and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Programs (DBP). Tune in to learn about the important work of the AUCD and its network, and the far-reaching initiatives of the AUCD that promote independence, productivity, and community inclusion for the disability community. Our guest for this ADA Live! episode is John Tschida, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Mr. Tschida was previously the Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The ten regional ADA Centers across the United States are funded by a grant from NIDILLR to provide information, training, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
More information, bios, resources, and transcripts available at: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-113/The American social reformer and clergyman Henry Ward Beecher once said, “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” Families come in many forms and in the United States, nearly 10% of children live with a parent with a disability.Join us for an engaging conversation on parenting with a disability and a new book on the topic, “A Celebration of Family: Stories of Parents with Disabilities,” with our four guests:Dave Matheis, Kentucky Coalition for the Rights of Parents with DisabilitiesJason Jones, Disability Specialist, Human Development Institute, University of KentuckyKimberly Tissot, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABLE-South CarolinaKara Ayers, PhD. Associate Professor, Associate Director, University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
For more information, transcripts, and resources visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-112/Some autistic adults have difficulties in finding employment opportunities that match their interests, gifts, and talents. Many autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed.Autistic adults and youth also experience barriers to completing postsecondary education and training opportunities, accessing healthcare, and enjoying an equitable quality of life.In this informative discussion, discover resources and supports available for autistics looking for employment and employers looking to hire these valuable employees.Our guest for this episode is Bev Harp, an autistic and the Principal Investigator of the Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW) Project at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, and Bev’s assistant, Squawkers McCaw.
As Veterans return to civilian life, some want to return to jobs they held before entering the military. Some will begin the search for new jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.9 million Veterans, or 27 percent, have a service-connected disability.In recognition of Veterans Day on November 11th, and in honor of military Veterans, we dedicate this episode of ADA Live! to the employment of Veterans and the challenges some Veterans face in returning to civilian employment.Please join us for this informative discussion on the employment of Veterans with our three guests:Keith Hosey, Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Louisville.Anne-Marie Nelson, National Vocational Rehabilitation Planning Specialist VHA Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC.Joseph Carlomagno, National Community Employment Programs Specialist, VHA Vocational Rehabilitation, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC.
For more information, resources, and transcripts visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-110/ Each October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The 2022 NDEAM theme of “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation” recognizes the important role that people with disabilities play in a diverse inclusive workforce.
As Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Taryn M. Williams, remarked, “A strong workforce is the sum of many parts, and disability has always been a key part of the equation. People with disabilities make up a wonderfully multifaceted group. By recognizing the full complexion of our community, we can ensure our efforts to achieve disability inclusion are, in fact, truly inclusive.”
To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our guest for this ADA Live! episode is Wally Tablit, Senior Director of Policy and Workplace Development at RespectAbility. Mr. Tablit will showcase insightful supportive, inclusive, and equitable employment policies and practices, and the vital contributions of workers with disabilities.
More information, bios, resources, and transcripts available at https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-109/ Under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done during the hiring process. Job accommodations are changes to the ways workplace tasks are typically done that help people with disabilities be successful and have the same opportunities as people without disabilities.
The ADA requires reasonable accommodations as they relate to three aspects of employment: 1) ensuring equal opportunity in the application process; 2) enabling a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job; and 3) making it possible for an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.
On the next episode of ADA Live! we welcome guest Sheryl Ellis, to discuss Title I from both the employee and employer perspective. Sheryl specializes in ADA compliance and workplace accommodations, assisting employees and employers in achieving the best possible outcomes for both parties. Sheryl is the author of “Making It Work: Managing Your Health Condition Through ADA Workplace Accommodations.”
For more information, resources, transcripts and bios visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-108/ Barbershops are an important place in black communities. Barbershops are a refuge from discrimination where black men can talk freely about their life and personal experiences. The Confess Project encourages dialogue between African American males about emotional health by training barbers and stylists to become mental health advocates.
While Black adults generally experience the same rates of mental illness as other adults in the United States, the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that Black adults who live below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress compared to those who have greater financial security. The APA also finds that concerns such as illness, poverty, and racial discrimination put Black male youth at greater risk for suicide, depression, and other mental health disabilities.
In this episode of ADA Live!, our guests Dontay Williams and Darnell Rice share about the Confess Project, a peer support network of more than 1400 barbers in 47 cities and 14 states across the U.S. who are inspiring boys, men of color and their families to be better emotionally and creating a culture of better mental health in Black communities.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-107/
In celebration of the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Judy Heumann and Peter Blanck share the barrier-breaking history of the disability rights movement in the United States.
Judy Heumann is an author, disability rights leader, founder of the World Institute on Disability, former Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSSERS), former Special Advisor on Disability Rights for the U.S. State Department, and subject of the documentary Crip Camp. Judy will be our honored guest for this ADA Live! podcast, and the host will be Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D. and University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.
Don’t miss this exciting chance to hear from one of the most powerful voices in the disability rights movement!
For more information, resources, and transcript visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-106/
As we begin the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading health and research organizations are reviewing data on what we have been through and how we have been impacted. An area of concern is how the pandemic has affected our mental health. According to a scientific brief released in March 2022 by the World Health Organization (WHO), in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%. And a Mental Health America (MHA) 2021 report titled “COVID 19 and Mental Health: A Growing Crisis” reports the number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed.
To help us understand these findings and to offer a clinical perspective on how COVID has impacted our mental health, we welcome Dr. Lin Hogan, a clinical therapist at Weems Community Mental Health Center, Forest Institute of Professional Psychiatry, in Meridian, Mississippi. Our host is Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chair of the Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University.
Acompañamos para un episodio especial de ¡ADA en Vivo! Donde puedes aprender sobre los derechos civiles proporcionados por la Ley para estadounidenses con discapacidades (ADA), la definición de discapacidad, los requisitos para emplear personas con discapacidad, y como los empleados y empleadores tienen derechos debajo de la Ley ADA, y el proceso de una acomodación razonable. También Yessica Guardiola y Emily Rueber hablan sobre como hispanohablantes pueden contactar la Red Nacional de la ADA y cuales servicios proveemos en español.
For more information, resources, and transcripts visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-105b/ In 2021, the Administration on Aging (A-o-A), part of the Administration for Community Living (A-C-L), published “2020: Profile of Older Americans”. The report found that people aged 65, and over, represented 16% of the population in 2019 but that is expected to be 21.6% by 2040. They also found that, in 2019, 19% of adults aged 65 and older reported they could not function at all or had a lot of difficulty with at least one of six domains of functioning: hearing, vision, cognition, ambulation, self-care, or independent living.
Aging brings up a lot of unknowns around independent living, caregiving, and health to name but a few. To discuss these issues and in celebration of Older Americans Month, this episode of ADALive! will feature Marnie Mountjoy, Division Director at the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living.
For more information transcripts and resources visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-105/ Air travel is often essential for employment, integral for recreation pursuits and vital for social and family connections. But, air travel can be challenging and full of anxiety for the 27 million travelers with disabilities and the 3.3 million passengers who use a wheelchair or other medical device for mobility.
In this episode of ADA Live! discover what airports and airlines are doing to make air travel experiences better for people with disabilities. Our guest is Steve Mayers, Director of Customer Experience and ADA Coordinator, at the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
For more information, resources, transcripts visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-7/ Thirty-two (32) years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA is still treated as an afterthought, rather than a powerful civil rights law. Please join us for this important discussion about how ADA compliance has progressed over the years and where gaps remain in realizing the ideals and intent of the ADA.
On this episode of Disability Rights Today, our first guest is nationally known advocate and expert on disability rights law, Eve Hill, a partner at the law firm of Brown Goldstein & Levy. Our second guest is Jason Turkish, President and Managing Partner of Nyman Turkish PC, a nationwide litigation and disability law firm. Our host is Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute and University Professor at Syracuse University.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-104/ As we enter the third year of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on the economy and the workforce. Some employees have developed post-COVID health conditions, or long COVID. And these post-COVID health conditions could impact one or more major life areas that may trigger protections for employees under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In this episode of ADA Live!, we will discuss the impact of post-COVID health on the workplace, employees, and employers – and its effect on our economic recovery. Our guest is Sharon Rennert, Senior Attorney Advisor, in the Division of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (ADA/GINA), Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-103b/ In this episode of ADA Live!, discover the important work of NIDILRR with our guest, Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) since May 2021. Dr. Forber-Pratt will also share her thoughts on the challenges moving forward for disability research, access, and inclusion.
For more information, resources, and transcripts visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-104 Although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not specifically address housing, the four foundational goals of the ADA: full participation, independent living, equal opportunity, and economic self-sufficiency, would not be possible without fair and accessible housing.
Listen to ADA Live! Episode 103 to discover the meaning of fair and accessible housing. Learn about the Fair Housing Act and how this law protects people with disabilities from housing discrimination.
Our guest for this episode of ADA Live! is Mr. Jack Humburg, Chief Operating Officer for the Boley Centers, a private not-for-profit corporation that provides housing and employment services for people with disabilities, individuals and families who are homeless, veterans and youth in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
More information, resources, and transcript visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-102b/ On average, the Southeast ADA Center responds to 2500 calls for ADA technical assistance each year. These calls come from many individuals, people with disabilities, business owners, state, and local government employees, employers, and other entities. The Southeast ADA Center is a trusted source for accurate technical guidance on the law for each situation. Our guests for the next episode of ADA Live! are Rebecca Williams - Lead Technical Assistance Specialist and Cheri Hofmann, ADA Distance Learning and Training Director, at the Southeast ADA Center. Join us for this episode where we will be “talking shop” about the technical assistance calls they receive, whether the ADA applies to a given situation, and how they advise callers.
For addition information, transcripts, resources, and bios visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-102/ Historically, the labor force participation and unemployment rates for people with disabilities are lower than the rates for the total workforce. In the United States, the total workforce participation rate stays between 18-22%. Additionally, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is historically twice the unemployment rate for workers who do not have disabilities.
To discuss employment for people with disabilities, we welcome Christine Griffin, Senior Executive Search Consultant with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. Our host today is Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute. We will focus on the topics of what can be done to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities, how far we have come, and how far we must go. We will also discuss the next generation of leaders in disability and employment.
For more information, bios, resources, and transcript visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-6/ The case of Karantsalis v. City of Miami Springs raises many questions about statutes of limitations, progressive disability, and advocacy. In 2008, Theodore Karantsalis, sued the city of Miami Springs, Florida, alleging the city was in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 because its facilities and infrastructure were inaccessible to him due to his multiple sclerosis. Later, he withdrew his lawsuit, believing he lacked constitutional standing because his symptoms at the time did not substantially limit his mobility. By 2019, Mr. Karantsalis’ multiple sclerosis had progressed and he required a wheelchair for mobility. He refiled his suit alleging the city and the city’s facilities, programs, and services were now inaccessible to him. The district court dismissed his suit, finding that Karantsalis was “barred by the four-year statute of limitations,” which was triggered before or during the 2008 suit when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The district court decision was reversed by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, noting that Karantsalis did not have to sue until his disability resulted in a loss of mobility.
Join us for this episode of Disability Rights Today, as we welcome the Plaintiff-Appellate in this case, Theodore D. Karantsalis, and his attorney, Matthew Dietz. Our host is Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Our guests will discuss the arguments of the case, the case findings, and what this case means for people with disabilities and the ADA.
For more information, transcripts, resources, and bios visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-101/ Like the United States, the employment gap in the United Kingdom between people with disabilities and non-disabled people is large with little progress made to narrow the gap. Although the Equality Act of 2010 offers similar protections to the Americans with Disabilities Act, interested groups believe more should be done to address employment disparities. On the next episode of ADA Live! we will look at a new effort in the United Kingdom to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities and end employment discrimination. The Disability Employment Charter, drawn up by charities, academics, and trade unions, lays out nine actionable steps the British government should take to address employment inequities experienced by people with disabilities. These steps are bold and ambitious.
Please join us as we welcome Lord Kevin Shinkwin, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, and Professor Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick Business School. Our guests will discuss how the Disability Employment Charter came about, and the vision, mission, and impact for people with disabilities. Our host will be Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute and University Professor at Syracuse University.
More information, resources, and transcripts available at; https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-100/ Join us for episode 100 of ADALive! when our guests will be Clarise Shelby-Coleman and her son Chase Coleman who have championed the importance of self-advocacy through a non-profit they have begun, called ‘Show Them How Smart You Are”.
Of all the skills we can learn, being able to advocate for ourselves could very well be the most important. Knowing who we are, what we need, and how to share that information with others is important for all of us, but especially for people with disabilities who are often denied choice in their lives or opportunities to make personal decisions. It is vital that people with disabilities have the opportunity to learn self-advocacy skills and become aware of how to ask for an accommodation in the workplace, or the post-secondary classroom, or to make decisions about lifestyles, living arrangements, or everyday choices.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-99/ Each year, 175,000 young Americans enlist in the military. At the heart of this recruitment effort is a sacred promise to take care of those who serve.
In recognition of Veteran’s Day on November 11, ADA Live! welcomes Misty Stutsman Fox, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business portfolio at the Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). Ms. Stutsman Fox will discuss the history, programs and supports offered by the IVMF for military veterans with disabilities. Listen and explore this informative discussion and celebration of military veterans.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-5/ On this episode of Disability Rights Today, we welcome Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California. She also served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Stanford Law School. Judge Cordell practiced law in East Palo Alto, CA, a low-income, African American, and Mexican American community south of San Francisco. Judge Cordell is the author of a new book, Her Honor: My Life of the Bench…What Works, What’s Broken, and How to Change it. Of Her Honor, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich says, “With candor and insight, Judge LaDoris Cordell puts a human face of the judges who make life-changing decisions on a daily basis. She takes readers inside the courtroom, presenting stories of the people whose lives have been altered, for better or worse, by our laws and the professionals who enact them.”
Join us for this episode, as Judge Cordell shares with Dr. Peter Blanck, JD, PhD, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, her unique perspective on how our legal system works and the prejudice that pervades it.
For more information, transcript, and resources visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-98-2/ Each October we celebrate the diverse contributions that people with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). On the third Wednesday of October, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) coordinates a national effort to promote career development for students and jobseekers with disabilities through career exploration and ongoing mentoring relationships
In recognition of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), discover what makes an inclusive apprenticeship, why inclusive apprenticeship is important, and how employers can make apprenticeship programs more inclusive for employees with disabilities. Our guest on ADA Live! will be Josh Christianson, Project Director at the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA), an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
Transcripts and Resources available at: https://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-4/ Case Summaries
(1) CVS v. Doe concerning whether Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973—and by extension Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—provides a disparate-impact cause of action for plaintiffs alleging disability discrimination.
(2) Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller addresses whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the statutes that incorporate its remedies for victims of discrimination, such as the Rehabilitation Act and the Affordable Care Act, include compensation for emotional distress.
(3) United States v. Vaello-Madero. The question before the court is whether Congress violated the Fifth Amendment by establishing the Supplemental Security Income program in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but not in Puerto Rico.
Our distinguished guests for this episode are Arlene Mayerson J.D. (Directing Attorney Emerita and Of Counsel, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)), Victoria Rodriguez Roldan, J.D. (Senior Policy Manager, AIDS United), and Claudia Center, J.D. (Legal Director DREDF). Our host is Dr. Peter Blanck, J.D., Ph.D., University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.
Key Words: Fifth Amendment, Supplemental Security Income, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Affordable Care Act, Disability Discrimination, Civil Rights Act of 1964
For More information Resources and transcripts visit https://www.adalive.org/episode98 Each October we celebrate the diverse contributions that people with disabilities make to America’s workplaces and economy during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
This year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” This theme reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this episode of ADA Live! our guest panel of self-advocates with disabilities will discuss their personal experiences in finding work, job accommodations, and the importance of employment and career to community inclusion.
Our guest panel will be: Will Fried, Fort Hays State University; Trisha Baldwin, Visionworks, Inc.; Eren Denburg Niederhoffer; Michael Kipniss of the Piedmont Group of Atlanta; Jason Jones, University of Kentucky Human Development Institute
More information, transcript, and resources available at https://www.adalive.org/episode97 As the school year begins, children and parents are anxious for what the new year holds. The Delta variant of COVID has brought safety concerns and uncertainty in our lives. Schools may have new face mask mandates, hybrid and virtual learning options, and fewer special education services. Social activities, sports, and graduations may continue to be impacted. In addition, children may face the stress of parents working from home, or worse, coping with job loss.
On this episode of ADA Live! we’ll discuss tips to help manage children’s worries, navigating education in a COVID-19 world, and resources to guide and support a successful school year. Our guest is Dr. Rachel Busman, a licensed clinical psychologist and Senior Director of the Child & Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorders Program at Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants (CBC).
For more information, transcript, and Resources visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-2-c-l-v-del-amo-hospital/ In this episode of Disability Rights Today, we focus on the court case of C.L. v. Del Amo Hospital, Inc. In this case, the plaintiff C.L., had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. She obtained a dog, with the intent to train the dog, Aspen, to be a service animal. While seeking inpatient treatment at Del Almo Hospital, the plaintiff’s dog was denied admission because her dog was not deemed a service animal. Please join us as we welcome three of the counsel for the plaintiff in this case: Christopher Knauf, JD, Disability Rights Legal Center, Founder Knauf Associates; Jennifer Mathis, JD, Deputy Legal Director and Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Celia McGuiness, Derby, McGuinness & Goldsmith, LLP. They are joined by Dr. Peter Blanck, JD, Director of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University for a discussion of the facts of the case, issues of the case, arguments of the case, and discussion of implications for policy and practice moving forward will be our focus.
Download Resources and transcripts at https://www.adalive.org/episode96 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our work and daily lives. From remote classrooms and telehealth care, to online events with friends and coworkers around the world, virtual meetings have become a regular part of our daily routine.. However, the computer technology and Internet platforms we use for virtual meetings may be a barrier to full participation for people with disabilities. ADA Title I requires employers to make reasonable accommodation for qualified employees with disabilities. ADA Title II (State and local governments) and ADA Title III (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) require the provision of effective communication for people with disabilities.
In this episode of ADA Live!, discover the pros and cons of virtual meetings and best practices to host inclusive accessible virtual or online meetings. Our guests will be Alexa Huth, Strategic Communications Lead for The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) and Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer for the State of Minnesota.
In 2017, wheelchair user Dr. Scott Crawford, a retired clinical neuropsychologist, sued Hinds County, Mississippi under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as he was unable to perform jury duty in 2012 and 2015 because of the inaccessibility of the Hinds County courthouse. U.S. District Judge Tom Lee of the Southern District of Mississippi found that Crawford had proven the Hinds County courthouse was not accessible to people with disabilities. The judge also reversed his earlier ruling that Crawford had standing, finding that the possibility of being excluded from future jury duty was too speculative. On appeal to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court, Dr. Crawford argued he has standing both as a juror and as an engaged citizen. On June 16, 2021, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court found that Dr. Crawford did, indeed, have standing.
More information, resources and transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode95 Warmer weather is here! After a year of social distancing due to the pandemic, we are cautiously getting out again and looking forward to outdoor recreation.
According to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, in 2017, more than 49 million people in the United States took to the nation’s waterways and enjoyed fishing from shorelines, boats and riverbanks. And, Statista reported there were about 12 million recreational boats registered in the United States in 2019.
To discuss how these popular activities can be enjoyed by all, tune-in to our next episode of ADA Live! when our guest David Jones, Founder and Director of the SportsAbility Alliance, will discuss accessibility in hunting, boating, and fishing.
Transcript and resources are available at https://www.adalive.org/episode94 Indigenous people - Native Americans or Alaska Natives - make up nearly two percent of the U. S. population, and many have more than one ethnic identity. Indigenous people experience greater health problems with lower life expectancy, higher rates of substance abuse, and a suicide rate 2.5 times greater than the rest of the United States. Economic barriers and poor access to medical care, and cultural differences result in a higher prevalence of mental health conditions for Indigenous people.
In this episode of ADA Live!, we welcome Dr. Hilary Weaver, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Professor, University at Buffalo. Dr. Weaver is Lakota Sioux by birth. She will be interviewed by Olivia Gawehnidi Porter, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation, student, and advocate for better mental health care in Indigenous nations. Their discussion will feature Dr. Weaver’s work understanding Indigenous teachings, how she is destigmatizing or removing the negative view that is often a part of Western ideas about disabilities, using traditional teachings of compassion and acceptance, and the importance of accepting people who are different.
For resources, transcripts, and more information visit: https://www.adalive.org/episode93 The “graying” of America is continuing at an accelerated pace. In the past 10 years, there has been a staggering 35% increase in the total number of people in the United States aged 65 and over, now at 52.4 million people. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the over-65 population will be 77 million by the year 2035 – when, for the first time, the number of older people will be larger than the number of children under age 18.
For many of us, aging means daily living can become more difficult. Aging also increases the likelihood of acquiring a disability and the likely result that more people will be eligible for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Plan to join us for this thought-provoking episode of ADA Live! in recognition of May as Older Americans Month. Our guest, Nick Nyberg, Programs & Planning Division Chief with the Alabama Department of Senior Services, will discuss the Older Americans Act of 1965 and its impact on the services and supports for older people, what these supports can be, and much more.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/gil-v-winn-dixie-11th-circuit-decision-on-web-access-and-the-ada/ On April 7, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Gil v. Winn-Dixie that websites operated by businesses are not “places of public accommodation” under Title III of the ADA. Gil’s inability to access the Winn-Dixie website, due to his blindness, therefore, was not in violation of the ADA. In the court’s opinion, the company’s website, without a point of sale, did not present an “intangible barrier” to Gil’s shopping for goods and services at Winn-Dixie’s physical stores.
Please join us for this special edition of ADA Live! when Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind, Howard Rosenblum CEO of National Association of the Deaf, Bruce Sexton, JD, plaintiff in National Federation of the Blind v. Target, and Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University discuss the impact of this decision.
Disclaimer Note: The personal opinions expressed by guest speakers in this episode should not be understood as an endorsement by the ADA National Network, the Southeast ADA Center, or Syracuse University.
The roots of agriculture run deep in our country, from large farms to community gardens, and it’s vital to the quality of our lives. We do not often think about how the ADA applies to large farms, community gardens, or neighborhood farmer’s markets. With spring around the corner, many of us are ready to be outside and get into the dirt by clearing, tilling, and planting.
In this episode of ADA Live! we’ll be digging into the topic of the ADA, accessible farming and gardening with our guest, Paul Jones, Manager of the Breaking New Ground (BNG) Resource Center and the National AgrAbility Project located at Purdue University. Please join us as we learn about the important work of AgrAbility, accessible agriculture, and any ADA requirements.
More information and transcript at https://www.adalive.org/episode91 The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System is on the front line in defending the personal and civil rights of people with disabilities. P&As empower and ensure individuals with disabilities have the right to make choices, contribute to society, and live independently. They guard against abuse, advocate for basic human rights, and ensure access and accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, voting rights, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
P&As are represented at the national level by the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), an organization established by Congress to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
On this episode of ADA Live! our guest will be Curt Decker, founder and Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Mr. Decker will discuss the history of the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System, some important legislation they have supported, current projects, and how this advocacy system works to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
More information, resources, and transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode90 The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted people with disabilities. by causing crisis situations in many aspects of our lives, including medical care, education, mental health, and the loss of caregivers and support networks. In order to fight the pandemic, government agencies and private companies are often using technology to keep track of how public and private behavior is affecting the spread of the virus. Historically, people with disabilities, minority populations and the LGBTIQ+ community are often the least protected from this type of public monitoring and data overreach.
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), as well as the MacArthur and Ford Foundations established the Just Tech COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants to understand the effects of COVID-19 on society and the role of technology in responding to COVID-19.
In this episode our guests will be two recipients of these grant awards, Dr. Paul Harpur of the University of Queensland (Australia) and International Distinguished Fellow at the Burton Blatt Institute; and Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Our guest list will also include their colleagues, Lydia X. Z. Brown and Ridhi Shetty of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) to discuss critical questions and provide a framework for tech solutions to pressing issues such as online education and public health policy.
Captioning and resources available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode89 From robots making food deliveries to drones aiding in search and rescue missions, to self-driving cars, automation and technology are changing the way we live. According to experts in the field, “automation shifts responsibility from humans and lets intelligent machines take control” (Mumm, H., 2019). This shift in automation has begun to alter the way we live; and its impacts on society are yet to be seen.
With an eye to the future, in May of 2019 Syracuse University started the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (ASPI). The goal of the ASPI is keeping technology from outpacing policy in the quickly growing field of autonomous systems and technology.
Please join us for the next episode of ADA Live! when our guest, Syracuse University Associate Professor Dr. Krista Kennedy and as host, our Burton Blatt Institute colleague Diane Wiener, discuss the exciting work of the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (ASPI), the importance of “human/machine collaboration” and the opportunities and challenges autonomous systems hold for persons with disabilities.
For resources, transcript, and captioning visit https://www.adalive.org/episode88 he United Nations (UN) recognizes December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). In 2020, the theme for this global celebration is "a day for all” – which reflects a growing understanding that disability is part of the human condition and nearly everyone will experience disability at some point in life.
Looking at disability rights around the world, we see that, few countries have truly addressed the lack of equality for people with disabilities in public spaces and also for older people, children, and caregivers. Public streets and sidewalks include barriers to full access and inclusion because of policies, laws and attitudes that ignore the needs and rights for people with disabilities.
This episode of ADA Live! features the Inclusive Public Space Project, an exciting international research project that investigates the inequality caused by inaccessible streets and sidewalks in local communities. Please join us in a discussion of this important work with our guests, Anna Lawson, Professor of Law at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and Peter Blanck, JD, PhD, University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.
Transcript and Resources available at https://www.adalive.org/episode87 This year has been remarkable in terms of celebrating the employment of persons with disabilities. This year 2020 includes important milestones - the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the 75th year of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with the theme: ‘Increasing Access and Opportunity’; and the 100th anniversary of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program.
November 2020 is also the 82nd anniversary of Veterans Day. According to the data from the most recent national census and from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 18.2 million veterans in the United States and, of those, 4.7 million, or 25 percent, had a service-connected disability.
Join us for this informative episode that focuses a lens on employment and Veterans with our guests Dr. Larry Logue and Dr. Peter Blanck of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Our guests will also share insights from their research “Win Pensions and Live in Idleness” Disability and Employment Among Union Army Veterans Before the Accommodation Principle, which investigates recently available data on the life course and the circumstances of Union army recruits’ compared to their civilian peers.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://www.adalive.org/episode86
For the past 100 years, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) under the guidance of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has enabled people with disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment.
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is critical given that the employment of persons with disabilities remains very low when compared to those without a disability. In 2019, only 19% of persons with a disability were in the workforce, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Join us as we celebrate 100 years of VR with our special guest, the Commissioner of the RSA, Mark Schultz. Discover how VR has changed over the years and gain insight into challenging opportunities for the future.
Resources and transcript available at https://www.adalive.org/episode85 An important function of state and local governments is to help people prepare for and respond to emergencies. Making sure that state and local government emergency preparedness and response programs are accessible to people with disabilities is a critical part of this responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that state and local government programs and services are fully accessible and available to people with disabilities. Join us for this informative episode to learn about emergency preparedness and the ADA with our guest Robbie Kopp, Director of Advocacy and Community Access for ABLE South Carolina.
Plan. Prepare. Respond. Make a list and keep important supplies with you. Identify where you could go to shelter safely. Listen and follow local news, weather reports, and social media. **Keep in mind You may need to adjust your emergency plan, supplies and actions based on the latest from your state, local officials and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Transcript and resources available at www.adalive.org/episode84 The shift to online instruction for schools across the United States has exposed troubling gaps in digital access and accessibility, especially for low income students and students with disabilities. Schools now face the difficult task of re-imagining what instruction will look like in the future.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities receive what is called a “Free Appropriate Public Education” or (FAPE), which are education services that are tailored to their individual needs. This episode of ADA Live! will focus on students receiving special education under IDEA and address questions and concerns about what going to school may look like during the pandemic and into the future.
To talk about all of these issues, our guest will be Phyllis Wolfram, Executive Director of the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE). She will discuss how our public schools can make sure that all students receive a high-quality education and also meet the unique needs of students with disabilities during these uncertain times.
Transcript and resources available at www.adalive.org/episode83-2 What better way to celebrate the 30th ADA anniversary than with the “chief architect” of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lex Frieden. Mr. Frieden is a well-known disability rights activist and a leader in the independent living movement. He is a professor of biomedical informatics and rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He also directs the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) program at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, home of the Southwest ADA Center, one of ten regional ADA centers in the ADA National Network. From 2002 until 2006, he served by appointment of President George W. Bush as Chairman of the National Council on Disability (NCD).
Join in our celebration of the past, present and future of the disability rights movement with Lex Frieden and the host, Peter Blanck, J.D., PhD. University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect and share in #ADA30 for the 30th ADA anniversary, and share your #ThanksToTheADA
For transcript and resources visit www.adalive.org/episode83 ADA30 - Celebrate. Learn. Share. The ground-breaking civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, turns thirty in 2020. What better way to celebrate than a conversation with the chief sponsor of the ADA bill in the House of Representatives, the Honorable Tony Coelho.
Mr. Coelho is a lifelong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and as someone with a disability who has faced discrimination, Tony shares his unique perspective on how the ADA has made an impact in the lives of people with disabilities. Mr. Coelho has had a distinguished career as a Congressman including serving as Chair of the President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities from 1994 until 2001. He currently serves as Chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation.
Eve Hill, one of the nation’s foremost disability rights attorneys will chat with Mr. Coelho about the passage of the ADA, how the ADA has transformed the lives of people with disabilities, and a look toward the future of disability rights.
Don’t miss this episode to connect and engage in the #ADA30 celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and share your #ThanksToTheADA.
Resources, interactive captioning, and transcripts available at https://www.adalive.org/episode82 Speakers: Judy Heumann & Peter Blanck Join us in a powerful and noteworthy conversation about the history and the future of the disability rights movement in celebration of the Olmstead Decision and the 30th ADA Anniversary.
Judy Heumann is an author, disability rights leader, founder of the World Institute on Disability, former Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSSERS), former Special Advisor on Disability Rights for the U.S. State Department, and subject of the documentary Crip Camp. Judy will be our honored guest for this ADA Live! podcast, and the host will be Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D.,and University Professor & Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.
Judy will talk about her life and work from her early days at the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, her collaboration with Ed Roberts, the Section 504 sit-in of 1977, her work with the World Bank as Advisor on Disability and Development, and her position at the Ford Foundation as a Senior Fellow. Judy and Peter will also talk about the progress of community integration of people with disabilities since the Olmstead court decision in June 1999, as well as the current challenges faced by the disability rights movement.
There’s more! Judy will also discuss her new book, Being Heumann and the documentary Crip Camp, which tells the story of the roots of modern disability rights activism. Don’t miss this exciting chance to hear from one of the most powerful voices in the disability rights movement!
For alternative Formats, Resources, and transcripts visit https://www.adalive.org/episode81 The month of May celebrates “Older Americans,” and recognizes the contributions and key role that older adults play in the vitality of our neighborhoods, families, and lives.
One aspect of aging that can certainly impact quality of life is cognitive impairment. As the population in the United States ages, so does the number of people living with cognitive impairment. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)* estimates more than 16 million people in the United States are living with some level of cognitive impairment and age is the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment.
In this episode, we will discuss research and resources for aging and cognitive impairment. We will also feature the ENHANCE Center, a recent grant awarded from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The ENHANCE Center is short for Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks, & Community Engagement. The ENHANCE Center will focus on developing technologies to improve the lives of older adults living with cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury.
GUESTS: Dr. Walter Boot, Professor Department of Psychology and Faculty Affiliate of the Institute for Successful Longevity; Dr. Neil Charness, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Institute for Successful Longevity; and Dr. Sara Czaja, Professor of Gerontology at Weill Cornell Medicine
For more information, resources, and transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode80 One of the many aspects of this public health crisis is the limited supply of equipment to treat patients in need. We face shortages of medical equipment and potential shortages of ventilators. Because the coronavirus COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, there is concern that ventilator demand may exceed supply. This will force medical staff to prioritize who gets life-saving treatment.
In this special episode of ADA Live!, we will talk with Alison Barkoff and Katheryn Rucker from the Center for Public Representation about rationing of medical care and ensuring the rights of people with disabilities are protected. We will discuss discrimination in medical care, anti-discrimination laws, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) complaints, and many other topics around this critical issue.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://www.adalive.org/episode79-3 The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways. Now, more than ever, we need to know about resources and initiatives that support good mental health in these difficult times. In this third episode of our special three-part series, “Protecting Your Mental Health during the Coronavirus Outbreak,” Dr. Blake Jones, a faculty member at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and a private therapist, will talk about how the mental health of teenagers and adults may be affected during this extraordinary time, how we might help them and ourselves maintain mental health, and also share his thoughts on physical isolation and its impact on our health.
For more information, resources, and transcript visit https://www.adalive.org/episode79-2 The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways. Now, more than ever, we need to know about resources and initiatives that support good mental health in these difficult times. In this second of three special ADA Live! episodes, we speak with Debbie Plotnick, Vice President for State and Federal Advocacy at Mental Health America (MHA), about resources available for people who may feel isolated, medical professionals, and caregivers. She will also discuss policy initiatives championed by Mental Health America.
More Information and Interactive transcript available at www.adalive.org/episode79-1 The worldwide Coronavirus outbreak has disrupted our daily lives. Sheltering in place, social distancing, and shortages at the grocery, have created stress and anxiety. Those of us who live alone may feel especially isolated at this time. You may be feeling helpless or sad, angry or frustrated. In times like these, we need to remember to take care of our mental health and ourselves.
In this first of three special ADA Live! episodes, we speak with Doreen Marshall, Vice President of Programs at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Dr. Marshall will discuss practical strategies to take care of our mental health in this time of crisis. Keep in mind that we are in this together and help is always available.
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode78 Speakers: Karen Hamilton, Community Enterprises; Jonathan Ellis, Lisa Byrd, Lorraine Woodward, Jean Andersen Twenty-six percent of the U.S. population live each day with a disability. We believe that disability, and the differences people with disabilities bring to the fabric of our culture, should be celebrated and embraced. People with disabilities have the same needs, desires, and talents as anyone and should have equal access to a full life.
In celebration of the 30th ADA anniversary, ADA Live! is featuring a monthly theme and for March, the theme is Disability Awareness. Explore and learn more with the ADA Anniversary Tool Kit at ADAanniversary.org
On this episode of ADA Live!, Karen Hamilton with Community Enterprises in Archdale, North Carolina, speaks with a group of people about living life with Cerebral Palsy (CP), Intellectual/Development Disability (ID/DD), Muscular Dystrophy (MD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode77 One of the most important rights of United States citizens is the right to vote. Although U.S. citizens over the age of 18 cannot be denied the right to vote, regardless of race, religion, sex, disability, or sexual orientation; people with disabilities are at risk of exclusion from this core aspect of citizenship (Source: The White House: Elections & Voting).
Join us for this episode of ADA Live! as we discuss voting access for people with disabilities with Jennifer Levin, Senior Attorney with Disability Law Colorado. Ms. Levin will share the role of Protection and Advocacy in ensuring equal access and, specifically, the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) initiative. Federal laws regarding voting access, and the protections they provide, will be discussed as well as best practices and policies some states have adopted to ensure equal access for all voters.
By voting, citizens are participating in the democratic process. Citizens vote for leaders to represent them and their ideas, and the leaders support the citizens' interests. As we move closer to the 2020 state primaries and Presidential election, the Southeast ADA Center and the ADA National Network, along with our national, regional and state partners, are focusing on voting access. This topic corresponds to the themes celebrating the 30th ADA anniversary.
Service animals seems to be in the news a lot lately and there is a great deal of information available about the rights of individuals with disabilities to have service animals in public. Service animals can make a significant difference in the quality of life of people with disabilities. They can help make the world more accessible by assisting with mobility and orientation, balance, retrieving, sensing medical conditions, and much more.
On this episode of ADA Live! we take a closer look at how these important animals are trained. Stephen Kuusisto, Syracuse University Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach with the Burton Blatt Institute and author of the book Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey; Lori Breece, Program Manager, & Kristina Smith, Program Coordinator, with United Disabilities Services (UDS) Service Dog Training Program will discuss the important work of training service dogs. We will learn about the fascinating and extensive work that is needed to train a dog to be a service animal, the types of breeds typically used, how dogs and potential clients are matched, and much more.
Before her rights were taken away, Jenny Hatch had her own apartment, worked, spent time with friends, and went to a church of her choice. After a court ordered her into guardianship, Ms. Hatch found herself in a group home against her will with her cell phone and laptop taken away, cut off from her friends and not allowed to go to her job and church.
On this episode of ADA Live!, Jonathan Martinis discusses his new book,” Supported Decision-Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All!” Martinis, along with Dr. Peter Blanck, tells Jenny’s story including how she lost her rights under guardianship and how she won them back when she showed the court that she uses Supported Decision-Making (SDM) to make her own decisions with help from people she trusts. They also show how you can use SDM in your life, with family members, or people you support, including in programs like Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Person Centered Planning.
In 2019, the National Council on Disability (NCD) reported that between 45% and 55% of people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (ID/DD) are under some form of guardianship. “Supported Decision-Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All!” is a practical guide for family members, human service professionals, and people in or facing guardianship. Martinis and Blanck hope that people with disabilities and their families, friends, and professionals will use this book to help develop customized Supported Decision-Making (SDM) plans that protect the rights of the individual with a disability and empower them to make their own decisions.
We are honored to have a special guest on this episode of ADA Live! - Luis Gallegos, J.D., the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York, will discuss a global perspective on disability human rights. Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D.,University Professor & Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, will interview Ambassador Gallegos about disability human rights as reflected in the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“CRPD”) and the Convention’s Conference of States Parties (“COSP”) to the CRPD.
The CRPD is an important human rights treaty, asserting that people with disabilities should have equality around the globe. When adopted in 2006, the CRPD was signed by the highest number of countries in the history of UN Conventions. It adopts a broad view of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all human rights apply to persons with disabilities. The CRPD also identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights, areas where their rights have been violated, and areas where protection of rights must be reinforced. Matters in regard to implementation of the CRPD are considered in the COSP.
Ambassador Gallegos serves as Chair of the COSP. He has a crucial and unique worldview, which he will share and what he believes are the successes, challenges, and opportunities for people with disabilities moving forward.
Los estudiantes con discapacidades, incluyendo ellos que tienen discapacidades intelectuales y de desarrollo, típicamente no sepan sobre las oportunidades en la educación pos-secundaria, cuales acomodaciones son disponibles y como pedir para los. Este episodio abarca como los estudiantes con discapacidades y sus familias necesiten saber sobre el acceso a la educación pos-secundaria y los tipos de apoyos y servicios disponibles a ellos cuando entran la universidad y también recursos recomendados que dan más información sobre la educación pos-secundaria y estudiantes con discapacidades. Presentador: Diana Katovich la directora asistida del Centro Taishoff para Educación Inclusiva de la Universidad de Syracuse Para más información y la transcripción haga clic: www.adalive.org/episode11
Una alergia de comida debe ser considerado tan una discapacidad en acuerdo con las leyes federales como la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973 y la Ley sobre estadounidenses con discapacidades (la Ley ADA). Algunas personas que tienen alergias de comida tienen una discapacidad, especialmente ellos con reacciones medicas graves a alimentos en particular. En este episodio, Dr. Daniel Newman el director ejecutivo de los servicios de apoyo académico y es el coordinador de ADA 504 para la Universidad de Lesley en Cambridge, Massachusetts habla sobre como un acuerdo entre el Departamento de Justicia y la Universidad de Lesley ayudaba a sensibilizar las profesionales de educación pos-secundaria que alergias de comida y la enfermedad de Celiac puedan calificar tan una discapacidad en acuerdo con la Ley ADA. También Dr. Newman va a charlar sobre los desafíos y las soluciones en que las universidades puedan acomodar y apoyar estudiantes que tienen alergias especificas. Presentador: Dr. Daniel Newman, Director Ejecutivo de los Servicios de Apoyo Académico y Coordinador de ADA 504 – Universidad de Lesley
Las emergencias puedan suceder sin aviso pues la mayoría de nosotros no estamos preparados para lograrlas. Todos deben estar bien preparados para emergencias que llegan de pronto- no importa si estás alguien con una discapacidad o no. Una emergencia podría ser una inundación, incendio, sismo, huracán u otro tipo de desastre natural. Aunque, también podría ser una fuga de gas natural o un sumidero o un árbol que se chocla la tierra y casa.
Este episodio de ¡ADA en Vivo! hablará sobre lo que personas con discapacidades deben hacer antes, durante y después una emergencia sucede. Nuestras presentadoras son Mary Morder la especialista de materiales del Centro de la ADA del Sureste, Christine Woodell la especialista de información y el socio de Mississippi para el Centro de la ADA del Sureste y Christy Dunaway la Coordinadora de Integración de Discapacidad para la Agencia de Gestión en Emergencias de Mississippi.
¿Tienen preguntas sobre los animales de servicio y la Ley sobre estadounidenses con discapacidades (la Ley ADA)? Hay muchos tipos de animales de asistencia o de servicio que están disponibles a ayudar personas con discapacidades. Los animales guía ayudan personas ciegas a navegar el medioambiente. Algunos animales de servicio realizan apoyo física o psiquiátrica a personas con tipos diferentes de discapacidades. Las leyes federales que respaldan el derecho ser acompañado por los animales en diferentes situaciones podría ser confundido. Ese episodio de ¡ADA en Vivo! revisa las definiciones y diferencias entre un animal de servicio y un animal de apoyo emocional. Vamos a revisar las regulaciones y políticos de la ADA para animales de servicio y charlar sobre el acceso para individuos con discapacidades que tienen animales de servicio en los lugares de negocio y vivienda. También respondemos a cuestiones comunes como ¿Qué estoy permitido a preguntar a una persona que tiene un animal de servicio? Y ¿Se puede rehusar un animal de servicio en un restaurante o hotel? Presentadores: Rebecca Williams y Cheri Hofmann del Centro de la ADA del Sureste Para más información y la transcripción haga clic: https://www.adalive.org/sites/default/files/episode50_transcript_spanish.pdf
Octubre es el mes nacional de concienciación sobre el empleo de individuos con discapacidad. En ese episodio de ¡ADA en Vivo! hablamos sobre el empleo exclusivo que es un proceso flexible que personaliza la relación profesional del empleo por contratando un candidato con discapacidad a cumplir las necesidades específicas de un empleador en una manera que les beneficia ambos el empleador y el candidato sin embargo de las descripciones previas del trabajo. Ese episodio va abarcar el proceso de empleo exclusivo- lo incluye la busca por trabajo, las negociaciones y como lo beneficia las empresas. También recalcamos los recursos disponibles que ayudan empleadores a implementar el empleo exclusivo. Presentador: Katie Wolf Whaley, Investigador Principal y Directora del Proyecto de Capacitaciones para Empleado Apoyado con sede en el Instituto de Desarrollo Humano de la Universidad de Kentucky Para más información y la transcripción visita: https://www.adalive.org/sites/default/files/episode49_transcript_spanish.pdf
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode73 October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and the theme for 2019 is "The Right Talent, Right Now." The U.S. Department of Labor states this year’s theme emphasizes the essential role that people with disabilities play in America's economic success, especially in an era when historically low unemployment and global competition are creating a high demand for skilled talent.
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our guest on ADA Live! will be Liz Weintraub, Senior Advocacy Specialist with the Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Liz is also a graduate of the Georgia Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) interdisciplinary training program at the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University.
Ms. Weintraub will discuss her personnel career path, the challenges she has overcome, and the role that both advocacy and self-advocacy have played in her career success. She will share her work at the AUCD, including her popular video series “Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy For All.” She will also share her thoughts on why the unemployment rate remains high for people with disabilities, and the importance of thinking about a “career” versus a “job.”
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode72 Emerging transportation trends, the impact on people with disabilities, and the role of the ADA with guests Paul Simmons with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center and Geoff Ames with Meeting the Challenge.
Having reliable transportation equals independence in our daily lives. Transportation is often needed to get to medical appointments, enjoy recreational activities, and most importantly, go to work. However, an estimated 25.5 million people in the United States report having disabilities that make traveling outside the home difficult. In this group, 13.4 million people with disabilities – more than half - are of working age (18 to 64 years), but only 20% work at full or part time jobs. Additionally, 3.6 million people with disabilities report significant travel barriers that make them unable to leave their homes. These figures from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) show why we need to change how transportation is used and can be made more inclusive.
Transportation is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Title II (public, state and local governments) and also Title III (private businesses). However, what about new and emerging transportation services? What about third party vendors, who are largely considered private providers such as Uber, Lyft, and others? What about the future potential of self-driving vehicles? How will these services and new technologies be made accessible for people with disabilities?
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode71 In today's economy, higher education is no longer a luxury for the privileged few, but a necessity for individual economic opportunity and America's competitiveness in the global economy. In an age when jobs can go anywhere in the world, skills and education are indispensable in determining success for individuals and for nations. As a result, a college education remains the best investment a student can make in his or her future.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, almost 20% of male undergraduate students reported having a disability in the 2015-2016 academic year. Critical to the success of these students is awareness and understanding of the legal and academic supports available to them in the college environment.
In this episode of ADALive!, we will talk with Ms. Carolyn Walker, Director of the Frederick Douglass Academic Resource Centerat Morehouse College, the world’s only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) for men. Ms. Walker will discuss the importance of support for students with disabilities while in college, the supports Morehouse College provides to its students, and how students can access those supports and services to ensure a successful academic experience.
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode70 The Honorable Tom Harkin - former Senator and Congressman, veteran, author, attorney, and chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), will be the featured guest on the July 3, 2019 broadcast of the ADA Live!, a podcast produced by the Syracuse University Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) | Southeast ADA Center. University Professor Peter Blanck, Chairman of BBI, will interview Sen. Harkin in celebration of the 29th anniversary of this historic civil rights legislation.
Considered the "Emancipation Proclamation for people with disabilities," the ADA changed the landscape of America by prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in all aspects of public life, including employment, schools, transportation, local government programs, and places of public accommodation. To preserve the intent of the ADA after court rulings weakened its standards, Harkin and former Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the ADA Amendments Act to ensure continuing protections from discrimination for all Americans with disabilities. It was signed into law in 2008.
In the podcast, Harkin will discuss how the ADA legislation came about, its impact over the last 29 years, and the future of civil rights protections for the more than 60 million people with disabilities living in the United States.
For additional information and transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode69 Submit your questions at www.adalive.org/submit_question There is a heightened national awareness of the barriers and inequities to health care in the United States. Recent studies indicate that people with disabilities experience both health disparities and specific barriers in access to health care programs and services, including health promotion and prevention.
In this episode of ADA Live!, Michael Richardson, Project Director of the Northwest ADA Center will talk about health care access and the ADA, the role of effective communication in health care decisions, and how health care providers and facilities can be more inclusive of patients with disabilities.
For additional information and transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode68 Submit your questions at https://www.adalive.org/submit_question Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement. (Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis)
In the second episode of this series, Stephanie Berger and Savannah Weston, Attorney Advisors in the Disability Rights Section (DRS) of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, will discuss the Department of Justice’s Disability Rights Section and their role in the current opioid crisis in the US.
For additional information and transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode67 Submit your questions at https://www.adalive.org/submit_question
Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids, including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.
In the next two episodes of ADA Live!, we will explore the opioid crisis from a number of different angles -- from treatment to the protections offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and from the justice system to legal and responsible use of opioids to treat chronic pain.
In the first episode of this series, will focus on the treatment for opioid addiction and the protections under the ADA. Rebecca Williams, technical specialist of the Southeast ADA Center, will discuss the protections that people in treatment have under the ADA. Mike Yow & clinical staff of Fellowship Hall, will discuss the treatment approach Fellowship Hall uses, applying the Narcotics Anonymous principles and steps. This approach is often considered by professionals in the field of addiction as “the grandfather of treatment.” Fellowship Hall is a private, not-for-profit facility in North Carolina treating adult men and women with substance use disorder. Fellowship Hall has also earned the reputation of being a center of teaching excellence.
For Additional information and Transcript visit https://www.adalive.org/episode66 This episode of ADA Live! features Judy Toth, the Safety Manager of Dollywood Parks and Resorts sharing how Dollywood ensures a memorable experience for all. Attendance at the top 20 theme parks in North America grew by 2.3 percent, setting a record of over 150 million visitors, according to the 2017 Theme Index, a study published by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures equality for people with disabilities at places of public accommodation. This includes theme parks that must ensure that they are accessible, which is more than wheelchair access. Accessibility includes "but is not limited to" providing inclusive experiences in planning for and during a theme park visit, such as: ticketing, online reservations, web applications, alternate formats, listening devices for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, audio descriptions for people who are blind or have low vision, and more.
More Information and Transcript visit https://www.adalive.org/episode65 Use of the Internet is increasingly enmeshed and vital in education, business, and daily life. However, various barriers prevent equal access and limit equal opportunity to the Web for people with disabilities. This episode of ADA Live! will highlight the basics of web accessibility including: why it is important, the ADA and other laws, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and common barriers to web access. Discover some tips and best practices to help you get started in providing more accessible and usable web applications and digital materials to a diverse audience.
For Additional information and Transcript visit www.adalive.org/episode64 This episode of ADA Live! features hip-hop artists and disability rights advocates, Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez of 4 Wheel City: The Movement 4 Improvement, an entertainment and musical group. Their mission is to use hip-hop music and culture to create more opportunities for people with disabilities and inspire people not to give up on life. 4 Wheel City performs original music as well as motivational speaking at hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, fundraisers, and events, all over the world. Additionally, Mr. Norris and Mr. Velasquez, wheelchair riders as the result of gun violence, strive to demonstrate to the world that people with disabilities have talents, dreams, and deserve equality.
Speakers: Steve Kuusisto - University Professor, Director & Diane Wiener - Research Professor, Associate Director Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach, Burton Blatt Institute at SU More information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode63
On this episode of ADA Live!, we are joined by scholar-activists, authors, and Syracuse University faculty: University Professor, Steve Kuusisto, and recently appointed Research Professor, Diane Wiener. We will be talking together about what's ahead for this new endeavor, and how disability justice and the experiences and expertise of people with disabilities will be at the center of the work that's underway and to come, locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.
More information and transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode62 This episode of ADA Live! features Steve Mayers, ADA and Title VI Coordinator at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Mr. Mayers talks about the role of the ADA and Title VI Coordinator, challenges to airport accessibility, and steps to make air travel comfortable and convenient for people who have disabilities. As we enter the holiday season, roughly 6.4 million people will rely on the nation’s airlines to go “home for the holidays”. These travelers include people with disabilities. Making airport services and facilities accessible is a crucial component of an airports’ infrastructure for the 26 million adults with temporary and permanent disabilities who travel each year for pleasure or business.
What is Employment First and why does it matter to people with disabilities? Employment First is a value that every person with a disability has a FIRST employment option in an integrated workplace earning competitive wages. Employment First is a mindset, an outcome, and a commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities are working in real jobs for real pay.
In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), learn about Employment First and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) work together for people with disabilities in the workforce.
Speaker: Jenny Stonemeier, Executive Director - APSE National
More Information and Transcripts available at https://www.adalive.org/episode61
In this episode, thought leaders Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D. and Jonathan Martinis, Esq., J.D. of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University, will discuss recent court cases where rights were restored and Supported Decision-Making teams were established.
Under Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), people with disabilities enjoy legal capacity — the capacity for rights and capacity to act — on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life. Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a framework that supports this right and helps individuals with disabilities make choices about their own lives with support from a team of people. Supported Decision-Making is an alternative to guardianship.
Speakers: Peter Blanck, University Professor and Chairman, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy, Burton Blatt Institute
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode60
Voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and a hallmark of our democracy. Yet for too long, many people with disabilities have been excluded from this core aspect of citizenship. The November mid-term elections will soon be upon us! Knowing our voting rights, including the right to accessible polling places, is critical to having our voices heard and participating fully in our communities. In this episode, Ms. Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County (Kentucky) Court Clerk and Chairwoman of the Louisville-Jefferson County Board of Elections, shares with us her experiences to ensure voting is accessible for all.
Speaker: Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County (Kentucky) Court Clerk and Chairwoman of the Louisville-Jefferson County Board of Elections
More information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode59
Back by popular demand just in time for summer, the Southeast ADA Center is rebroadcasting the "ADA Live!" Show: Beach Access. In this episode, we will discuss how to make a beach accessible to people with disabilities. This episode will examine challenges such as beach and wildlife protections alterations to an existing beach (including upgrades to parking, circulation path, and restroom facilities) and what defines an accessible route.
Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode58
The lack of participation in physical activity is a serious public health concern in the United States. It is of even greater concern for the almost 56 million people with disabilities who may face additional barriers to being physically active and are, therefore, at increased risk for developing serious health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity can provide individuals with disabilities the strength and stamina required to participate in all aspects of life actively and successfully.
Efforts to create inclusive, healthy communities will directly affect generations to come and will improve the quality of life for all community members. A truly facilitating community is one in which health promotion activities are as accessible to people with disabilities as they are to people without disabilities. All individuals have the right to conditions and resources that ensure optimal health. However, socioeconomic, structural, programmatic and attitudinal barriers within the community are now widely recognized as major contributors to health disparities experienced by people with disabilities.
The promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is to ensure equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities at work and in our communities. In this episode, we will discuss promising practices and strategies for developing inclusive healthy communities, which include transportation policies and environmental changes to ensure streets are safe, accessible and convenient for all users.
Speaker: Amy Rauworth, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Lakeshore Foundation & Associate Director of the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode57
Each day over 10,000 individuals become eligible for Medicare due to age or disability. Learning about what Medicare covers and navigating the Medicare enrollment process can be challenging. During this episode, we’ll provide an overview of the parts of Medicare, when and how someone can enroll, and then discuss what services are and are not covered under Medicare. Then we’ll delve a little deeper and look at ways your clients can apply for assistance covering their Medicare costs, and how Medicare coordinates with other coverage, like Medicaid. Finally, you’ll learn where to go in your community to help your residents with complex Medicare questions.
This episode is the second of a two-part conversation with the National Council on Aging. In this episode, Leslie Fried, Senior Director of the Center for Benefits Access, will:
Discuss what Medicare costs, what it covers and what are its different Parts A, B, C and D. Understand common procedure for signing up for Medicare, including key enrollment periods. Learn how clients with Marketplace insurance make the transition to Medicare, and how Medicare coordinates with other key programs (e.g., Medicaid). Find out how to help low-income residents apply for core benefits programs that pay for a portion of their Medicare costs.
Speakers: Joe Caldwell, Director Long-Term Services - National Council on Aging (NCOA) Leslie Fried, Senior Director - Center for Benefits Access - National Council on Aging (NCOA)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode56
In this episode of ADA Live!, Stephen Kuusisto will discuss his new memoir Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey. Kuusisto, a professor at Syracuse University, is a noted disability rights advocate and in his new book he describes the joys and intricacies of working with a professionally trained guide dog. He will also discuss many other topics including: What is a service animal? Who invented the guide dog? What can we learn from animal-human interactions? What can dogs do for people with disabilities?
Speaker: Stephen Kuusisto, poet and author of 'Have Dog, Will Travel' Professor in the Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies at Syracuse University
Older adults and individuals with disabilities share desires to live independently in the community and age with dignity and respect. However, our current system of long-term services and supports (LTSS) forces individuals to impoverish themselves, places enormous burdens on unpaid family caregivers, and is based towards nursing homes and institutional services.
This episode of ADA Live! is the first of a two-part conversation with the National Council on Aging (NCOA). In this episode, Joe Caldwell, Director of Long-Term Services and Supports, will discuss:
Important community living policy issues for older adults, including: LTSS financing, access to Medicaid home and community-based services, and healthy aging and falls prevention. Collaboration among national aging and disability organizations to advance community-living policy.
Speakers: Joe Caldwell, Director Long-Term Services - National Council on Aging (NCOA) Leslie Fried, Senior Director - Center for Benefits Access - National Council on Aging (NCOA)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode54
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to make reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities under Title I of the ADA. Title I only applies to businesses that have more than 15 employees. Title III of the ADA requires businesses, regardless of the number of employees, to make the goods and services they offer to the general public also available to customers and clients with disabilities.
In this episode of ADA Live!, Beth Milito, Senior Executive Counsel of the National Federation of Small Business, will discuss small business concerns, challenges, and best practices in accommodating both employees and customers. Topics include: Concerns small businesses have in accommodating their employees. How advocates can support small businesses in making their facilities accessible. Addressing the threat of "fly by" lawsuits. And future challenges small business may meet, including website accessibility and the aging workforce.
Speaker: Beth Milito, Senior Executive Counsel of the National Federation of Independent Business
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode53
The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has often been called a turning point in the history of people with disabilities. In honor of the ADA Anniversary (July 26), this episode will explore significant turning points in the history of disability in America, including an examination of veterans of wars. Veterans are supposed to be outside the usual understanding of disability, but nonetheless, they have experienced distinctive psychological disorders and considerable racial/ethnic discrimination. What can the treatment and perceptions of veterans teach us about disability today?
Join Larry Logue, senior fellow at the Burton Blatt Institute - Syracuse University and former professor of history at Mississippi College; and William Myhill, Director of Legal Research and Writing at the Burton Blatt Institute, as they discuss how the treatment of veterans has changed since wounded Civil War veterans camped in front of Lincoln's White House.
Speaker: Larry Logue, Ph.D., senior fellow at BBI and former professor of history at Mississippi College
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode52
Adults with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty as those who do not have a disability. ABLE accounts are a way for individuals with disabilities and their families to build wealth without jeopardizing means or resource tested benefits. Created by the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save money and continue eligibility for SSI and Medicaid. This episode of WADA ADA Live! features Michael Morris, Director of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and founder and Executive Director of the National Disability Institute, discussing the opportunities ABLE accounts provide in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Speaker: Michael Morris - Executive Director of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University, founder and Executive Director of the National Disability Institute (NDI)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode51
Questions about service animals and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? There are numerous types of assistance/ service animals available to assist people with disabilities. Guide animals help individuals who are blind navigate their surroundings. Some service animals provide physical and/or psychological support to individuals with various disabilities. Federal laws governing the right to be accompanied by these animals in various settings can be confusing.
This episode of ADA Live! will review the definitions and differences between a service animal and an emotional support animal. We will overview the ADA regulations and policies for service animals and discuss access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and housing. We will also address common questions from businesses, such as “what am I allowed to ask a person with a service animal?” and "can a restaurant or hotel refuse to allow a service animal?“
Speakers: Rebecca Williams, Information Specialist / Technical Assistance, Southeast ADA Center Cheri Hofmann, Distance Learning Coordinator / Information Specialist, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode50
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This month’s episode of ADA Live! will talk about Customized Employment, a flexible process that personalizes the employment relationship by hiring a job seeker with a disability to meet the specific needs of an employer in a way that benefits both the employer and job seeker, regardless of pre-existing job descriptions. This episode will discuss the process of Customized Employment, including the job search, negotiations, and how this benefits businesses. We will also highlight resources that are available to help employers best implement Customized Employment.
Speaker: Katie Wolf Whaley, Director Supported Employment Training Project, University of Kentucky – Human Development Institute
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode49
A food allergy may be considered a disability under Federal laws, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some individuals with food allergies have a disability, particularly those with more significant or severe responses to certain foods.
In this episode, Dr. Daniel Newman - Executive Director of Academic Support Services, and ADA/504 Coordinator at Lesley University, discusses how the settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Lesley University in Massachusetts helped to increase awareness among higher education professionals that food allergies and celiac disease may qualify as a disability under the ADA. Dr. Newman will also discuss the challenges and solutions for universities in accommodating and supporting students with specific allergens.
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Newman, Executive Director of Academic Support Services, and ADA/504 Coordinator - Lesley University
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode48
Emergencies can happen without warning, so most of us are unprepared for them. Everyone – whether or not you have a disability – should be prepared for sudden emergencies. An emergency can mean a flood, fire, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster. However, an emergency can also be a natural gas leak, a sudden sinkhole in your neighborhood, or a tree falling on your house.
This episode of ADA Live! will discuss what anyone should do in an emergency, and specifically what people with disabilities should do before, during, and after an emergency. Our guest speakers will be: Mary Morder - Materials Development Specialist at the Southeast ADA Center, Christine Woodell - ADA Trainer for LIFE of Mississippi, and Christy Dunaway - Disability Integration Coordinator for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Speaker: Christy Gilliland Dunaway, Disability Integration Coordinator, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Christine Woodell, ADA Trainer, LIFE of Mississippi Moderator: Mary Morder, Materials Development Specialist, Southeast ADA Center
The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has often been called a turning point in the history of people with disabilities. In honor of the ADA Anniversary (July 26), this episode will explore significant turning points in the history of disability in America, including an examination of veterans of wars. Veterans are supposed to be outside the usual understanding of disability, but nonetheless, they have experienced distinctive psychological disorders and considerable racial/ethnic discrimination. What can the treatment and perceptions of veterans teach us about disability today?
Join Larry Logue, senior fellow at the Burton Blatt Institute - Syracuse University and former professor of history at Mississippi College; and William Myhill, Director of Legal Research and Writing at the Burton Blatt Institute, as they discuss how the treatment of veterans has changed since wounded Civil War veterans camped in front of Lincoln's White House.
Speakers: Larry Logue, Ph.D., senior fellow at BBI and former professor of history at Mississippi College William Myhill, Director of Legal Research and Writing, Burton Blatt Institute
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode46
Allison will talk about major changes at the state and federal level that impact people with disabilities and the people who serve them. We will discuss the importance of grassroots advocacy in this environment and why it is more important than ever.
Speaker: Allison Wohl, Executive Director of the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode44
The goal of Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston is to support the creation of authentic, inclusive college experiences that lead not only to academic and social growth, but also integrated competitive employment outcomes for youth with intellectual disability. Students with intellectual disability who go to college are 26% more likely to leave vocational rehabilitation services with a paid job and earn a 73% higher weekly income. There are now over 260 colleges and universities that have opened their doors to students with intellectual disability.
As more students with intellectual disability express their desire to go continue their education, more colleges respond by creating opportunities for learning. Teachers need to learn about these opportunities so that they curb the low expectations that are too often placed upon children with intellectual disability. Families need to know about these options so that they can make help prepare their children for a different and better future. And most of all, youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities need to know that college is a realistic option for their future. One that can lead to increased knowledge, social connections and better employment outcomes. To support and expand this progress we need to increase public awareness about these college options, increase efforts to expand existing options, and targeted research to document the outcome that higher education can have on the lives of people with intellectual disability.
Speaker: Meg Grigal, Ph.D., Co-Director, Think College Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode45
A hallmark of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the provision of reasonable accommodation to ensure equality in the workplace. In this episode of ADA Live, we will discuss what is and is not reasonable accommodation and how to request accommodation. When employers hear the word “disability,” they may become concerned with cost and legal liability. Often, employers do not understand that they too have rights under ADA. Employees generally do not know that they have responsibilities in disclosing disability and the need for accommodation.
This presentation will address the following questions: What is “Reasonable Accommodation?” What is not “Reasonable Accommodation?” When can someone get an accommodation? How do I ask for accommodation? What rights and responsibilities do I have as a person with a disability? What rights and responsibilities does an employer have? When is the “right time” to disclose a need for accommodation? What are the concerns people have when they disclose a disability and how are they protected?
Speakers: Barry Whaley, Project Director for the Southeast ADA Center Pamela Williamson, Assistant Project Director, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode/episode-43
A food allergy may be considered a disability under federal laws, such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A disability as defined by the ADA is a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as eating. Major life activities also include major bodily functions, such as the functions of the gastrointestinal system. Some individuals with food allergies have a disability as defined by ADA, particularly those with more significant or severe responses to certain foods.
Join us as Pamela Williamson shares her personal story regarding food allergies and provides recommendations regarding requesting accommodations. In addition, Corinne Gilliam, Disability Services Specialist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, discusses how Vanderbilt University addresses food allergies and discusses how the settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Lesley University in Massachusetts helped to increase awareness among higher education professionals that food allergies and celiac disease may qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Speakers: Corinne Gilliam - Disability Services Specialist, Vanderbilt University Pamela Williamson - Assistant Project Director, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode42
This show is a continuation of our discussion with Nancy Horton regarding the top 5 ADA questions regarding reasonable accommodations. A diversified workforce is a win-win situation for everyone. It is often easier to accommodate an employee with a disability than employers may think. This session of ADA Live! will explore the most frequent workplace accommodation requests and possible solutions. The topics for reasonable accommodations to be covered will include: Leave, Reassignment to Another Position, Accessible or Reserved Parking, Service Animals, and Reasonable Accommodation for Job-Related Testing or Training.
Join Nancy Horton, Technical Assistance Specialist at the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, as she answers some of the most common questions from employers and workers with disabilities that are received by ADA Specialists at the 10 Regional ADA Centers in the ADA National Network.
For the first part of the discussion, listen to Episode 40 - Top 5 ADA Topics: Notes from an ADA Specialist (Part 1).
Speaker: Nancy Horton, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode41
A diversified workforce is a win-win situation for everyone. It is often easier to accommodate an employee with a disability than employers may think. This session of ADA Live! will explore the most frequent workplace accommodation requests and possible solutions. The topics for reasonable accommodations to be covered will include: Leave, Reassignment to Another Position, Accessible or Reserved Parking, Service Animals, and Reasonable Accommodation for Job-Related Testing or Training.
Join Nancy Horton, Technical Assistance Specialist at the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, as she answers some of the most common questions from employers and workers with disabilities that are received by ADA Specialists at the 10 Regional ADA Centers in the ADA National Network.
Speaker: Nancy Horton, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode40
Universal Design is changing the world we live in by making buildings, products and environments that are accessible to all - people with disabilities and those without disabilities. In this episode, Diana Foote, Executive Director of the Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC), and Michael Rotella, GUDC Associate Director, will define Universal Design (UD) and provide some examples. They will also discuss the benefits of Universal Design and identify how it benefits a wide range of people. They will also explain how Universal Design differs from building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Speakers:Michael Rotella, Associate Director, Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC) Diana Foote, Executive Director of the Global Universal Design Commission & Director of Operations & Business Manager, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode39
Back by popular demand, the "ADA Live!" Show: The School Year Has Started - And It's Not Going Well. What Can I Do? is being rebroadcast by the Southeast ADA Center. This session of WADA ADA Live! continues our conversation with Georgia Fruechtenicht. In this episode, Georgia will explain the options parents have when their child's school year is not going well. She will discuss writing emails and letters to express concerns and how to request a meeting. She will also discuss effective communication techniques parents can use to address their concerns, strengthen their partnership with the teacher, and get their children the support they need to be successful at school.
Speaker: Georgia Fruechtenicht, Special Education Parent Mentor for Coweta County Schools
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode38
People with disabilities face many challenges in employment. Antidiscrimination laws are continually evolving and new issues are coming to the fore. Learning about, understanding, and applying information about these laws and changes is difficult, even for those trained in the language and the logic of the law.
Steven Mendelsohn - Attorney, Advocate, and Author of People with Disabilities and Employment Law: Recent Developments, Emerging Issues, And What They Mean In Everyday Life - will discuss how people with disabilities can benefit from information about key recent developments in the law and from analysis of their practical implications in everyday life.
Speaker: Steven Mendelsohn, Attorney, Advocate, Author
This is a very exciting year with the Presidential election coming up in November. This episode is the continuation of a three part series on voting access. In this episode, Carol Francisco and Darren Jernigan, both of whom have been on the board of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, will discuss why voting is so important for people with disabilities. In addition, Carol and Darren will discuss their personal voting experiences and their experience on the Tennessee’s Help America Vote (HAVA) Committee.
Speakers: Carol Francisco, Tennessee Disability Coalition Darren Jernigan, Tennessee Disability Coalition
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode36
Back by popular demand, the "ADA Live!" Show: Back to School—What Parents Need to Know Before the School Year Begins is being rebroadcast by the Southeast ADA Center. This session of WADA ADA Live! will explore what parents need to know to help their child’s school year get off to a good start. Topics include establishing a good relationship with your child’s teachers and staff; helping a child who is very anxious about going back to school; who decides when an IEP should be scheduled; how to prepare for the IEP or 504 meeting; ideas for following up after the IEP/504 meeting; and what students with disabilities going on to college or vocational training need to know.
Join Georgia Fruechtenicht as she answers some of the most common questions from parents about how to collaborate with teachers and staff to make the school year successful for their child.
Speaker: Georgia Fruechtenicht, Special Education Parent Mentor for Coweta County Schools
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode35
In this episode, Jim Dickson, the Co-Chair of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Voting Rights Committee, will discuss the disability vote and the importance of people with disabilities casting their vote. This is a very exciting year with the Presidential election coming up in November. In addition, July 11- 15 is National Voter Registration Week. This episode focuses on the importance of the disability vote and how the disability voting behavior compares to other minority groups and the general population; changes in the voting process and what the future of voting may look like; voting accessibility and what to do when issues arise; and what people and communities with a strong interest in disability issues can do to improve voting access.
Speaker: Jim Dickson, Co-Chair of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Voting Rights Committee
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode34
People with disabilities tend to vote about 10-20% less than those without disabilities, making it easier to dismiss the disability population. Although a study by Rutgers University shows that the vast majority of voters with disabilities are able to cast their votes privately and independently, the perception among these voters persists that they will encounter barriers at their polling place. In this episode, we will discuss the laws affecting access to voting, voters' rights to access, and what poll workers need to know in order to provide full access to voting, and the resources to help them do just that.
Speakers: Melanie Jane Bull; Public Policy Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition Donna DeStefano; Assistant Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode33
Christy Dunaway was recently hired by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to serve as the Disability Integration Advisor. Mississippi is only the third state in the country to develop this position within their emergency management system. In her position, Christy will ensure that all programs and services related to emergency management, preparedness, response and recovery, are fully accessible for residents with disabilities living in Mississippi. Christy will talk about her recent experiences covering her first disaster in this new position and lessons learned.
Speaker: Christy Dunaway, Dunaway Consulting
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode32
Jonathan Martinis' appearance on the October 7th edition of ADA Live, discussing The Interplay between Guardianship and the ADA and Supported Decision-Making was one of our most popular. Because so many people had questions and comments, we're having him back to answer some of the most "Frequently Asked Questions" about Supported Decision-Making. We'll discuss how Supported Decision-Making can help people with disabilities make their own decisions and direct their own lives without the "need" for a guardian and ways to access appropriate supports and services to make that happen
Speaker: Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy at the Burton Blatt Institute and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode31
The Fair Housing Act provides rights and protections to persons with disabilities living in multi-family housing. In this episode Kathy Gips, Director of Training at the New England ADA Center, will discuss the Fair Housing Act and how it relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the key requirements in the Fair Housing Act, requesting an accommodation or modification, service animals and parking.
Speaker: Kathy Gips, Director of Training, New England ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode30
Many young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are leaving high school and considering post secondary education programs. Until recently, there were not many opportunities for students with ID to have access to post secondary education. What began through the efforts of a few individuals and institutes of higher education has developed into a movement of many who share the belief that all students should have access to post secondary education opportunities that lead to employment and independent living opportunities.
This episode is a continuation of our series on Post Secondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. In this episode we will discuss the definition of inclusion, the stimulus behind the spark of inclusion in higher education, post secondary education Comprehensive Transition Programs, accommodations in Comprehensive Transition Programs, support for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education, and anticipated outcomes for students with disabilities attending post secondary education.
Speaker: Barry Whaley, University of Kentucky - Human Development Institute
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode29
Back by popular demand, the "ADA Live!" Show: Post-Secondary Education and Students with Disabilities is being rebroadcast by the Southeast ADA Center. Students with disabilities, including those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, don’t usually know about their opportunities in higher education, what accommodations are available, and how to request them. This episode discusses what students with disabilities and their families need to know about access to higher education and the kinds of supports and services that are available to them when they enter college or university, and also recommended resources to get you started in learning more about higher education and students with disabilities.
Speaker: Diana Katovitch, Taishoff Center on Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode28
Back by popular demand, the Southeast ADA Center is rebroadcasting the "ADA Live!" Show: Employment and Reasonable Accommodations. This episode will address the legal and practical issues surrounding reasonable accommodations in employment under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). Topics to be discussed include: definition of disability, the legal rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, and the process of requesting reasonable accommodations.
Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode27
This episode of WADA ADALive! addresses issues facing veterans and their families as they leave the military and rejoin civilian life. The presenter is James Schmeling, J.D., co-founder of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University and Programs Mission Director for IVMF’s innovative transition, employment, education and training programs targeted to veterans and military families. These include the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV); the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans-Families (EBV-F); the Veterans Career Transition Program (VCTP), (over 35 industry-certified career paths); the Transition Assistance Program: Boots to Business Program; Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE); and, VetNet.
Speaker: James Schmeling, J.D. - Co-Founder, Managing Director | Programs Institute for Veteran & Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF)
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode26
Jonathan Martinis, Legal Director for Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making will discuss the relationship between guardianship and the ADA. He has over 20 years’ experience representing people with disabilities in cases under the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Social Security Act and other civil rights laws. In 2013, he represented Margaret "Jenny" Hatch in the "Justice for Jenny" case, which held that Ms. Hatch has a right to use Supported Decision-Making instead of being subjected to a permanent, plenary guardianship. Topics include: What rights do persons with disabilities have under a guardianship? What are the alternatives to guardianship if I think it’s too restrictive? What is supported decision making? How does it work? What other issues do I need to think about that will enable a person with a disability to live more independently in the community?
Speaker: Jonathan Martinis, Legal Director for Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode25
Join ADA Live! (WADA) on September 2 for our second conversation with Georgia Fruechtenicht from Parent to Parent of Georgia (P2PGA). In this episode, Georgia will explain the options parents have when their child's school year is not going well. She will discuss writing emails and letters to express concerns and how to request a meeting. She will also discuss effective communication techniques parents can use to address their concerns, strengthen their partnership with the teacher, and get their children the support they need to be successful at school.
Speaker: Georgia Fruechtenicht, Curriculum and Learning Specialist, Trainer, and Navigator Team Leader; Parent to Parent of Georgia
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode24
This session of WADA ADA Live! will explore what parents need to know to help their child’s school year get off to a good start. Topics include establishing a good relationship with your child’s teachers and staff; helping a child who is very anxious about going back to school; who decides when an IEP should be scheduled; how to prepare for the IEP or 504 meeting; ideas for following up after the IEP/504 meeting; and what students with disabilities going on to college or vocational training need to know.
Speaker: Georgia Fruechtenicht, Curriculum and Learning Specialist, Trainer, and Navigator Team Leader; Parent to Parent of Georgia
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode23
This show is a continuation of our discussion with Nancy Horton regarding the top 5 ADA questions regarding reasonable accommodations. A diversified workforce is a win-win situation for everyone. It is often easier to accommodate an employee with a disability than employers may think. This session of ADA Live! will explore the most frequent workplace accommodation requests and possible solutions. The topics for reasonable accommodations to be covered will include: Leave, Reassignment to Another Position, Accessible or Reserved Parking, Service Animals, and Reasonable Accommodation for Job-Related Testing or Training.
Speaker: Nancy Horton, Technical Assistance Specialist, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode22
A diversified workforce is a win-win situation for everyone. It is often easier to accommodate an employee with a disability than employers may think. This session of ADA Live! will explore the most frequent workplace accommodation requests and possible solutions. The topics for reasonable accommodations to be covered will include: Leave, Reassignment to Another Position, Accessible or Reserved Parking, Service Animals, and Reasonable Accommodation for Job-Related Testing or Training.
Speaker: Nancy Horton, Technical Assistance Specialist, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode21
Back by popular demand just in time for summer, the Southeast ADA Center is rebroadcasting the "ADA Live!" Show: Beach Access. In this episode we will discuss how to make a beach accessible to people with disabilities. This episode will examine challenges such as beach and wildlife protections alterations to an existing beach (including upgrades to parking, circulation path, and restroom facilities) and what defines an accessible route.
Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode20
Under the ADA, facilities are required to be accessible so that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy the goods, services and programs that businesses, nonprofits and state and local government offer to the general public. Some people think that only new construction and alterations need to be accessible and that older facilities are “grandfathered in,” but that’s not true.
Join this episode of ADA Live! to learn more about making sure your business or facility is accessible as we continue the discussion from the March 4th show, When Attorneys Come Knocking: How Accessible Is Your Business?
Speaker: Rebecca Williams, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode19
It’s been 25 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. What steps have you taken to assure that your business is accessible to customers with disabilities? Graham Sisson, ADA Coordinator for the State of Alabama, and Dan Kessler, Executive Director of Disability Rights and Resources in Birmingham, Alabama, will explain how you can make sure that your business is accessible and that you don’t discriminate against customers with disabilities in your policies and procedures. They will also talk about how local disability organizations can help you understand the how’s and why’s of voluntary ADA compliance.
Speakers: Graham Sisson, Executive Director, Governor's Office On Disability (GOOD), AL Daniel Kessler, Executive Director, Disability Rights & Resources, AL
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode18
Last year, the ADA Legacy Tour and the colorful Road to Freedom ADA Bus, piloted by legendary photographer Tom Olin, visited nine cities across the United States between July 26 and December 2014. In 2015, an even more ambitious ADA Legacy Tour will travel to 39 cities and culminate in Washington, DC on July 26, 2015 as part of the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy for the Shepherd Center and Chair of the ADA Legacy Project, as he talks with Pamela Williamson, Director of the Southeast ADA Center, about how you can share your ADA story and help preserve the history of the disability rights movement; celebrate its milestones; and educate the public and future generations of advocates.
Speakers: Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy, Shepherd Center and Chair, The ADA Legacy Project Pamela Williamson, Director,Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode17
Get a preview of what’s in store when you attend the 2015 National ADA Symposium from May 10-13 in Atlanta, GA. In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, this year’s Symposium is bigger and better than ever. Join Jim de Jong, Director of the Great Plains ADA Center as he chats with Sally Weiss from the Southeast ADA Center about the many speakers and seminars, along with cutting edge technology, that makes the 2015 ADA Symposium something not to be missed. Kicking off with a reception at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta and featuring a keynote speech by John Lewis, the 2015 Symposium blends the latest on ADA, implementation strategies and best practices with a celebration of the 25th ADA Anniversary and a stop from the ADA Legacy Tour. Symposium registration opens on January 5th (adasymposium.org) and spaces are expected to fill up quickly.
Speaker: Jim de Jong, Executive Director, Great Plains ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode16
For the past 22 years, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of this year's observance is “Sustainable Development: The promise of technology”
The emergence of information and communications technologies (ICTs) have dramatically increased connectivity between people and their access to information, and further raised living standards. ICTs have changed the way people live, work and play. However, not all people benefit from the advances of technology and the higher standards of living. This is mainly because not all people have access to new technologies.
Today, there are over 1 billion people living in the world with some form of disability. Persons with disabilities not only face physical barriers but also social, economic and attitudinal barriers. In spite of being the world’s largest minority group, persons with disabilities and the issue of disability has remained largely invisible in the mainstream development frameworks and its processes.
Speaker: John Robinson, Managing Partner and CEO, Our Ability
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode15
In this episode, we will discuss: What is the definition of a service animal? Is a service animal the same as a companion animal, psychiatric animal or therapy pet? Does a business have to serve a customer who has two service animals? We will discuss some of the issues involving access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and in housing.
Speaker: Rebecca Williams, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode14
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, this episode focuses on the Workforce Innovation and Employment Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA is designed to modernize and improve existing federal workforce development programs. Dr. Rebecca Salon and Elizabeth Jennings of the National Disability Institute’s LEAD Center will discuss the changes created by WIOA and the opportunities it presents for individuals with disabilities.
Speakers: Rebecca Salon, Project Director - LEAD Center Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director - LEAD Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode13
Web access is not just making a website available to the public. It includes making that website accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Discover the “big picture” of what accessibility is, why accessibility is important, and some tools and resources to get you started on the path to a making an accessible website for all your visitors.
Speakers: Celestia Ohrazda, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University Marsha Schwanke, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode12
Students with disabilities, including those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, don’t usually know about their opportunities in higher education, what accommodations are available, and how to request them. This episode discusses what students with disabilities and their families need to know about access to higher education and the kinds of supports and services that are available to them when they enter college or university, and also recommended resources to get you started in learning more about higher education and students with disabilities.
Speaker: Diana Katovitch, Taishoff Center on Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode11
In this episode we will discuss how to make a beach accessible to people with disabilities. This episode will examine challenges such as beach and wildlife protections alterations to an existing beach (including upgrades to parking, circulation path, and restroom facilities) and what defines an accessible route.
Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode10
Playgrounds with accessible components included throughout the play areas make it possible for children with and without disabilities to choose where and how they want to play with each other. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design went into effect on March 15, 2012. The Standards contain specific technical requirements for new or altered play areas, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately owned and funded. Join us on June 4, 2014 as Bill Botten of the U.S. Access Board explains the new requirements and answers your questions about making play areas accessible to all children.
Speaker: William Botten, U.S. Access Board
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode9
This episode about access to pools will provide people with disabilities, state and local government staff, businesses, and interested persons with an overview of why pool access is important, what people should expect to see in terms of access based upon new 2010 regulations, and answer some specific, real-world questions about access.
Speakers: Barry Whaley, MLM Associates, Inc. and University of Kentucky - Human Development Institute Donna DeStefano, Tennessee Disability Coalition
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode7
Planning for and responding to emergencies can be overwhelming. The key is preparation. This episode discusses what emergency managers and shelter operators need to know in order to prepare for housing people with disabilities and also talks about what people with disabilities need to do to prepare for emergency evacuations.
Speakers: Marilyn Self, Regional Director, Disaster Support Functions for the American Red Cross - Georgia Region Cheri Hofmann, Distance Learning Coordinator and Technical Assistance Specialist, Southeast ADA Center
Moderator: Mary Morder, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode8
Voting is a fundamental right. In 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). This legislation is aimed at improving the general election process and sets forth new requirements for state election officials to follow. This episode will focus on the requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and HAVA to make polling places accessible to people with disabilities. We will discuss accessible registration, effective communication, and voting aids for people with disabilities.
Speaker: Nancy Duncan, Disability Consultant
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode6
What is the definition of a service animal? Is a service animal the same as a companion animal, psychiatric animal or therapy pet? Does a business have to serve a customer who has two service animals? We will discuss some of the issues involving access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and in housing.
Speaker: Sally Weiss, Director for Knowledge Translation, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode5
The Department of Justice has investigated hundreds of complaints about the failure to provide effective communication. Historically, they have received more complaints about failure to provide effective communication than any other issues they have dealt with. Join this episode to learn about the obligations of medical providers, lawyers, tax preparers, local and state government agencies, employers and social service providers, etc. to ensure that their customers are able to communicate effectively with them.
Speaker: Julia Sain, Disability Rights and Resources
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode4
Equal access to meetings, conferences and events is one part of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) but this requirement is often overlooked or misunderstood. Join us for this episode where we will discuss issues that should be part of planning and hosting temporary events, such as conferences and workshops.
Speaker: Karen Hamilton, North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode3
Since 2001, about 2.5 million men and women have served in the U.S. military. One-third of these service members served more than once. About half of all returning veterans have some level of service-connected disability. For many veterans, the transition to civilian life means learning to live with a disability. Today’s “yellow ribbon” spirit has resulted in better services, protections and treatments for wounded warriors. However, many veterans, especially those with disabilities, still face significant barriers in their transition to civilian life.
For veterans, work is not just about a paycheck. It’s about identity, pride and human connection. It’s also about healing because those who are employed have better physical and mental health. During this episode, we will focus on several key issues for returning wounded warriors to their work.
Speaker: Wendy Strobel Gower, Northeast ADA Center – Cornell University
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode2
This episode will address the legal and practical issues surrounding reasonable accommodations in employment under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). Topics to be discussed include: definition of disability, the legal rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, and the process of requesting reasonable accommodations.
Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center
More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode1